Homeless Families Face Blistering Temperatures on the Streets
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Updated: August 5, 2010
"I'm pregnant, I'll be due in four weeks so I hope God graces me and we get into our own place", said Darretta Hawkins.
Not only is Darretta Hawkins 8 months pregnant, she has three little kids and she's homeless.
Hawkins said, "We walk around with no where to go because we don't have money to get on a bus to take us where we need to go."
So, Hawkins and her family walk around from place to place trying to beat these blistering hot temperatures and she's not alone. Frerica Boston is in the same situation.
Boston said, "We went to Saint Francis today, they don't complain much."
Both families stay at the Salvation Army, but at 8 am the shelter closes its doors and everyone has to leave.
The salvation army says they're running out of resources like money and staff, but they're doing the best they can with what they have to help those who need it the most, escape the heat.
Barbara Dupree helps to run the shelter, but she's limited in what she can do.
Dupree said, "I didn't have enough staff so I opened at 2:30 so its been day to day."
Dupree was able to open her doors 2 hours early on Thursday, but she admits, it's still not enough.
Dupree said, "We'd like the community to open up some places, to come together with us so they can have a place to go."
Until then, the options for parents like Boston and Hawkins are slim.
Dupree said, "The library the day shelter and they close at one, the recreation center is closed now so they don't have much."
Not only is Darretta Hawkins 8 months pregnant, she has three little kids and she's homeless.
Hawkins said, "We walk around with no where to go because we don't have money to get on a bus to take us where we need to go."
So, Hawkins and her family walk around from place to place trying to beat these blistering hot temperatures and she's not alone. Frerica Boston is in the same situation.
Boston said, "We went to Saint Francis today, they don't complain much."
Both families stay at the Salvation Army, but at 8 am the shelter closes its doors and everyone has to leave.
The salvation army says they're running out of resources like money and staff, but they're doing the best they can with what they have to help those who need it the most, escape the heat.
Barbara Dupree helps to run the shelter, but she's limited in what she can do.
Dupree said, "I didn't have enough staff so I opened at 2:30 so its been day to day."
Dupree was able to open her doors 2 hours early on Thursday, but she admits, it's still not enough.
Dupree said, "We'd like the community to open up some places, to come together with us so they can have a place to go."
Until then, the options for parents like Boston and Hawkins are slim.
Dupree said, "The library the day shelter and they close at one, the recreation center is closed now so they don't have much."
