Bitter Cold Temperatures Keep Philadelphia's "Code Blue" In Effect
By Mark Abrams
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The bitter cold temperatures gripping the region will keep Philadelphia's "Code Blue" in effect for the next few days.
Leticia Egea-Hinton, Deputy Director of the Philadelphia Office of Supportive Housing, says there has been an active effort to bring the homeless in from the cold.
"We do have people that have been coming in," she says. "The Department of Behavioral Health outreach teams have been on the street reaching out to the individuals who are out on the street who might need assistance."
Hinton says two options are available. One is a standard bed for an overnight stay in a warm place and food and other services. The other, she says, is called a cafe, which offers the homeless a chance to go inside to get warm, sit down and get something hot to drink, as well as light food.
Hinton says anybody seeing someone whom they believe to be homeless and trying to stay out in the cold should call a hotline, 215-232-1984, to get the person assistance.
