Kansas City opens overflow warming shelters for the homeless

Updated: 9:22 PM CST Jan 19, 2022

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

Kansas City has opened overflow warming shelters for the homeless. There's such high demand that the regular shelters can't meet the need.

We talked with one man inside the shelter who says he knows someone who recently died trying to stay warm in temperatures like this. It's extremely dangerous, and that's what makes the work that the shelter and volunteers are doing that much more important.

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"Yes, we get a lot of people that come into the shelter because they have frostbite, but we also have a lot of people coming into the shelter with burns because they've gotten too close to the fire or they've gotten too close the propane tank," said the Rev. Randy Fikki, of Unity Southeast Church.

Fikki started this shelter in his church. Now he's the lead coordinator for the city during extreme temperatures and high demand.

"Right now, we're set up for 100 beds," Fikki said.

He said they will all get used. The shelter has three rooms each filled with snacks, blankets, and first aid.

"We can love them and care for them and let them know that they matter, that they are seen, that they are heard and that they are going to get taken care of," Fikki said.