COLUMBIA, S.C. — As temperatures are set to plunge to near 30 degrees this weekend, the cold air will have a major impact on the area’s homeless population. But for those who face life on the streets every day, dealing with the weather is nothing new.
"Raymond" is an unhoused man who has lived on the streets of Columbia for over 10 years. He said he and many others have found different ways to keep warm.
“Some people build fires. Most of us try to get us some kind of heater, like the Little Buddy. I’ve got a kerosene heater, which is kind of expensive. I didn’t know kerosene’s kind of high,” he said.
Raymond said life for the unhoused is hard enough, even during good weather.
“It becomes a way of life because it takes all day just to get that day’s needs. That’s all you can do is make it through the day. You don’t have time to do even anything else,” he explained.
As temperatures fall and overnight lows dip into the 20’s, there are places that the homeless can go.
The Oliver Gospel Mission and Transitions Homeless Center are two locations in Downtown Columbia that serve the unhoused.
Craig Currey, President and CEO of Transitions said their day center is open during the day for folks to get out of the cold.
"People who don’t have a bed can get a hot lunch. The 260 folks who do have a bed get three hot meals a day," Currey said.
The City of Columbia also makes their rapid shelters available during cold weather. Officials say that an overflow shelter can be opened as well.
Still, some of the unhoused, like Steven Mims, choose to brave the cold.
“It’s not freezing, raining. It’s not icy or anything like that so hey, I don’t mind being out here. I’ve got a blanket,” Mims said.
Even with all of the available shelter options, Raymond said there is still a lack of places for the homeless to sleep.
“Transitions, places like that, they never have enough beds. A lot of people are out here as couples. You can’t go to any kind of shelter as a couple. A lot don’t want to be separated,” he said.
One of those couples is Michael Romero and Bobbi Jo Johnson. They have their own solution.
“One thing that would help with the homeless is if they had like a little park or area where we could set up tents. That would make it easier for us to have a place to sleep at night, without having to try to find somewhere to stay, and then they say 'You’re trespassing' and make you leave,” Johnson said.
Officials with the City of Columbia Police Department said Friday they will be out looking for those who need a warm place to sleep, and if needed, will even transport those folks directly to a shelter.