For homeless, staying warm is key.

Byline: Susan Palmer The Register-Guard

W i n t e r w e a t h e r

The trick to tolerating the stone-cold nights that have plagued Eugene the past week is keeping three specific areas of the body warm. This is wisdom Vance Dietz has gleaned the hard way, from three years of living homeless.

"The top of your head, your fingertips and toes - as long as you keep those parts warm, you'll keep the rest of your body comfortable," Dietz said.

He spends his days at St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County's Service Station, a day shelter for homeless adults on Highway 99. At night, he sleeps outside in a pretty good mummy bag covered by a couple of tarps.

"For the time being, I'm all right," he said.

Dietz and hundreds of others have found some respite from the frigid wet weather at area shelters, and some charities are feeling the strain.

"Last night, we slept 385 people - men, women and children - that's unusually high for this time of year," said Lynn Antis, assistant manager at the Eugene Mission. "It's one of the highest numbers we've ever had."

At White Bird's Chrysalis Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center, more clients are spending time in the building, just staying out of the weather, manager Larry Wienerman said. About 30 percent of the program participants are homeless, he said.

"There are people who won't use the Mission for whatever reason. They're wet and cold and getting sick. I don't remember a time when we've had this long a period of icy, cold weather. It's really straining the homeless population."

At First Place Family Center, there are more families who need a place to sleep than there are spaces available, program Director William Wise said. But somehow families are making do. One family camping in a recreational vehicle took in another family with no place to sleep. A couple who found a relative to take in their baby during the cold snap were given temporary shelter by a stranger who didn't want them sleeping in the park, Wise said.

"A lot of folks are doubling up," he said.

Relying on the kindness of others is keeping David Beck alive. Homeless and almost blind, Beck said he gets help from other homeless men who get him back and forth from his homeless camp to the Service Station.

"If it wasn't for the coffee here in the morning, we'd freeze to death," he said.

The cold weather may also soon spell trouble for low-income people who have housing but who will face an increase in their utility bills, said Roxanne O'Brien, the social service office supervisor for St. Vincent de Paul. The agency administers several utility assistance programs. Utilities don't turn off the power when the forecast calls for below-freezing temperatures. But the bills still need to be paid.

"It doesn't impact them right now, because they won't get their bills till next month," O'Brien said. "Then we'll see some real need out there."

COLD WEATHER HELP Donations to these groups will go toward homeless and low-income people hit hard by recent cold weather Eugene Mission: Needs extra food, warm clothing and money to cover higher utility bills. Send or drop off at 1542 W. First Ave., Eugene. St. Vincent de Paul of Lane County: Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing can be donated at any agency store. Homeless people are given vouchers for such items. The agency administers local and federal programs that help low-income residents pay utility bills. For more information, call 689-6747. Money donated to St. Vincent's utility assistance helps families who don't qualify for other programs, 456 Highway 99, Eugene. White Bird: Needs blankets, sleeping bags, gloves, socks and coats. Can be dropped off at 341 E. 12th Ave., Eugene.