Cries for help are echoing across the United States as colder weather begins threatening the health and safety of the homeless population.
Just over the weekend, authorities in Kansas City, Missouri are saying that below-freezing temperatures claimed the life of a 41-year-old homeless man known as "Sixx" to his friends and family.
Local volunteers are saying that it's a tragedy that could have been prevented.
"We're just really sad to hear that another one of our friends has passed and it was so preventable. I mean, it was something that as a community, we could come together and we could prevent it," said Lindsey Cattanach, volunteer at Free Hot Soup KC.
Closer to home, the number of people finding themselves homeless across Acadiana has skyrocketed since the Coronavirus Pandemic started back in March.
According to reports, that number has increased by 82 percent.
One organization in Lafayette says they are hoping to help the community as temperatures continue to drop by ramping up its efforts to meet the heightened need.
The Acadiana Regional Commission On Homelessness has been housing people in hotels because social distancing makes it hard to house people in homeless shelters.
They have also created what they call a "Freeze Fund" to help shelter people who would otherwise be left out in the cold during the winter.
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Those interested in giving by check, can mail it to ARCH, PO Box 3936, Lafayette, LA 70502.
If you would like more information about giving options, you can email arch@archacadiana.org.