April– the cherry blossoms bloom, squirrels come out of hibernation, the days get longer, winter clothes are put away…

Hypothermia season may have officially ended on March 31, but that doesn not mean that the danger of hypothermia is gone until November. If anything, spring is prime hypothermia weather.

Everyone, including the guests coming into our center, is shedding their winter gear. Fine when one has a warm place to go at night, but not safe when one is homeless. Now that the hypothermia shelters have closed, the number of people back on the street at night, bracing the rain and wind, has increased.

An email I received today quoted the National Alliance to End Homelessness and their report Winter Homeless Services: Bring Your Neighbors in from the Cold:

According to Dr. James J. O’Connell from the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP), the most dangerous cases of hypothermia do not occur when the ambient [surrounding] temperature is far below freezing. Instead, Dr. O’Connell says, the worst cases they see arise when the days are warm (between 40 F and 50 F) and the nighttime temperature drops to the mid-30s.

Help us keep our guests dry and clean!

We are always in need of socks and underwear. Dry, clean base layers are crucial to staying healthy and warm. Bring them to our center: 1041 Wisconsin Ave, between 10am-5pm during the week or 10am-2pm on the weekend.