Homeless shelters at maximum capacity after Code Blue

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - A Code Blue was declared Thursday night in Albany and Schenectady counties as temperatures dipped below freezing. The code extends all the way into Sunday for Albany County as concerns for those without shelter have grown. 

During a code blue, homeless shelters are open for extended hours. In Albany, homeless residents can contact any of the facilities below or call the HATAS Homeless Hotline at (518) 463-2124. 

• Warming Center located at 45 South Ferry Street 
• Safe Haven Drop-In Shelter located at 26 South Swan Street 
• Capital City Rescue Mission, located at 259 South Pearl Street 

According to Shahmeeka Chaney-Artis, the program director for Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, or IPH, said the shelter is one of the few in the county that operate for longer hours during a Code Blue. Chaney-Artis said Thursday the shelter was at maximum capacity.

"As always, we have a line around the building of about 55 people coming in to seek shelter," Chaney-Artis said. "What we do is we get them in and give them a nice warm meal and a place to be. They can do their laundry. They can do their hair; they can take a shower."

The Capital City Rescue Mission is another shelter people can turn to for cover during a Code Blue and is open 24/7. Executive director Perry Jones said nearly 71 people came to the rescue mission Thursday night, and 261 people stayed the night. Jones noted that in order to accommodate the increase in people coming to the shelter during a Code Blue, the staff had to prepare ahead of time.

"Making sure you have the gloves, the hats, the scarves because people are going to need those," Jones said. "You’re going to need them on demand. Making sure your food supply is ready and all ready to go. We’re doing that. There’s always preparations being made, making sure all the mats and blankets, that that come with it are clean and sanitized every day.”

Heather Elizabeth German, one of the 50 people that stayed at IPH Thursday night, said that it makes a world of a difference when trying to get through the night.

“It’s difficult," German said. "When you get used to taking care of yourself and you're doing it for other people, and somebody comes in and changes your entire life around, it’s difficult to get used to having somebody else taking care of yourself."

In Albany County, the Code Blue will remain in effect from Thursday evening through Sunday.