SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - The freezing temperature is forcing most of the homeless in Utah indoors, but there is a small minority who refuse shelter.
Fourth Street Clinic and American Volunteers teamed up to offer help. "Do you have a warm place to stay?" Fourth Street Clinic Physician Assistant Joel Hunt asked a homeless woman standing outside the county courthouse. The woman refuses help.
"We try to offer everybody the option and it's up to them do decide, but not everyone wants to go," said Hunt. "Your reaction to that?" asked ABC 4's Noah Bond. "It hurts, I mean it's sad," he replied.
It's sad because frostbite can easily set in and there is nothing the homeless advocates can legally do after their help is refused.
They also found a man sitting on a bench west of the city library. He was intoxicated and also refused to go to a shelter.
On Thursday night the group only found two people in one hour. It can find up to a dozen people on a warm night. "I hope that that means people are indoors versus trying to sleep in the park or somewhere exposed," said Volunteers of America spokeswoman Michelle Templin-Colasek.
The Fourth Street Clinic and Volunteers of America search for homeless in Salt Lake City every Wednesday and Thursday night.
The groups rely on donations to keep their services available.
If you would like to help these organizations call the numbers below.
Donate to 4th Street Clinic by calling 801-364-0058.
Donate to Volunteers of America by calling 801-363-9414.
