Bitter cold temps present challenges for Wilmington’s unsheltered population

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — With temperatures expected to be bitterly cold Thursday night and more cold, overnight temperatures expected through the weekend, it’s often easy to forget that while many of us have a warm, safe place to sleep at night, that’s not the case for some.

“Look at me, trembling cold.”

That’s what Jennifer Green had to say about the weather Thursday night, as she waited for a spot to open at the Good Shepherd Center.

She’s been trying to get in for the past few days, with no luck.

That’s why when it comes to staying warm, Green said it can be a struggle.

“You, you gots to be prepared, you gots to have the heat, you gots to have the blanket, you gots to have the thing under you and that’s warm,” Green said. “But if you really want to be warm, you get a shelter.”

And shelters like the Good Shepherd Center and the Warming Shelter ILM are critical for providing refuge from cold weather conditions.

But the Warming Shelter only opens when there are at least two consecutive nights with temps under 30 degrees.

Katrina Knight is the executive director of the Good Shepherd Center.

While they’re undergoing renovations, Knight said they’re still welcoming guests daily, as quickly as possible for those looking to escape the cold.

As for Green, being able to lie down indoors in this weather is a luxury.

“You only stay warm when someone gives you a spot to be in. It means I’m winning, I got a home.”

But when she’s unable to get in, a night outside in the cold means she has to keep moving.

“You know, sometimes you lay your head down and only sleeps for so long because you got to keep going. But the Good Shepherd, everything is, laundry, its mail, its food, its shelter, its warmth.”

When we spoke with Jennifer early Thursday afternoon, she said she wasn’t sure if she had gotten a spot to spend the night at the Good Shepherd Center, but she was very hopeful.

As for the Warming Shelter ILM, they plan to open Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night, closing Wednesday morning.

If you are interested in volunteering or donating, they are located on Grace Street in Wilmington.