OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — With one of the coldest and longest winter’s in recent memory, the Siena Francis House is doing it's best to keep up.
"We have a lot of people that are requesting shelter and it's been, not record numbers but it's been probably close to that,” says development director, Tim Sully.
Sully says they've had nights where they were around 200% over-capacity on the women's side and just under that in the men's shelter.
Still, they're trying to get every single person they can, to get indoors.
"Even though we have rules and policies, when it's really cold like this, we really go out of our way to ensure our mission is followed, we really try not to turn anyone away,” says Sully.
They'll even patrol the neighborhood and make sure anybody outside, has a chance to go inside.
"From time to time we do see somebody that is outside and maybe their planning to come in but maybe not, and if they're not, we just remind them about the cold, because they may not realize how cold it really is,” says Sully.
While the goal is to give everybody in need some clothes, a hot meal and of course, shelter. With so many people inside, all day, cabin fever has set in frequently.
"The challenge is to make sure everybody gets along with each other, even though it's in cramped spaces and just like anywhere if you can't move around and people get a little antsy about being inside,” says Sully.
