TRIPLE-DIGIT HEAT PUTS AN EXTRA BURDEN ON VALLEY'S HOMELESS STRAINED RESOURCES, FRUSTRATIONS NEAR THE BOILING POINT.Byline: CONNIE LLANOS llanos (yä`nōs), Spanish American term for prairies, specifically those of the Orinoco River basin of N South America, in Venezuela and E Colombia. Special to the Daily News SAN FERNANDO San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. -- Three years in prison and three years living on the streets have exposed Martin Nachtmann to tough conditions, but none tougher than the last 20 days of triple-digit heat. The record-breaking heat wave that has made life uncomfortable for all Angelenos creates an additional burden for the 11,000 transients in the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. who have no place else to go. ``This weather is treating us horribly,'' said Nachtmann, who is always accompanied by his 7-month-old Queensland heeler heel·er n. 1. One who heels shoes. 2. Informal A ward heeler. heeler Noun Austral & NZ a dog that herds cattle by biting at their heels , Maggie. ``I'll take a midday walk to the mall or the library -- anything to stay cool.'' Wil Hernandez, interim director of the San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission, said the high heat and humidity have spurred an increase in those seeking shelter. ``We are turning down about 20 people every night,'' Hernandez said. The mission, which has been working with the Valley's homeless community for five years, said summertime already provides fewer donations than other times of the year. ``We simply have not had an increase (in donations) to compensate for the increase in our utility expenses and food needs.'' The heat doesn't only strain resources, Hernandez said, but also fragile spirits. ``They know they will have to get up and brave 100-degree heat again tomorrow, with no refuge from the elements,'' he said. Jon Horne, program coordinator for Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Family Housing Transitional Living Transitional Living for Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Transitional living is a restructuring of an old concept. The early centers for living were known as Halfway or Three-Quarter houses and usually were in existence for the provision of shelter for people who were Centers, says the scorching scorch v. scorched, scorch·ing, scorch·es v.tr. 1. To burn superficially so as to discolor or damage the texture of. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. heat tends to heat up tempers, as well. ``People can't do the little things to stay cool, that they could in their own homes,'' Horne said. Horne, who oversees more than 120 units that house homeless singles and families, said it's common for the shelter to see heightened aggressiveness during the summer. ``The heat brings out frustration in people.'' For others, like Tiffany Young, her husband, Che, and 2 1/2-year-old daughter, Marguerite Marguerite, for French women thus named, use Margaret Marguerite. For French women thus named, use Margaret. marguerite, in botany marguerite: see daisy. , the frustration plays out in other ways. The family has taken shelter at the San Fernando Rescue Mission, which gives them a bed in which to sleep and food each night and morning. But it's the middle of the day that drags her spirits down. ``It would be nicer if it wasn't 106 degrees,'' she said. ``It's on days like this the shelter should be open all day.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Martin Nachtmann and his Queensland heeler, Maggie, stay in the shade while waiting outside to get some food and use the facilities at the Burbank Temporary Aid Center. John Lazar/Staff Photographer |
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