Blizzard latest lethal storm threat for homeless Long Islanders
The blizzard was historic, but to homeless outreach advocates, in some ways, it was just the latest in a cold stretch of storms that can be lethal for Long Islanders living on the street.
Maureen’s Haven operates winter shelters and 17 host sites in Suffolk County and the East End, said the organization’s director Dan O’Shea.
Many of the sites have been capacity, with about 35 people per night for the past month, following the January snowstorm, bitter cold and Sunday’s blizzard, O'Shea said.
The organization takes referrals and makes outreach to anyone in need of shelter from the cold, he said.
"We do everything to not turn anyone away," O’Shea said. "A lot of people have stayed ... for several weeks since the first storm."
He said outreach efforts are higher in areas like Riverhead, working with stakeholders to make contact for warm shelter.
"It's so cold out there, we don't want people to risk getting sick or worse," O’Shea said. "There's so much snow in the wooded areas. I can't imagine walking out to get out of the elements."
Other organizations, such as Hamptons Community Outreach, went searching in homeless encampments in wooded areas in the Hamptons to prevent people from potentially freezing to death.
The organization’s founder and director, Marit Molin, said everyone they made contact with were staying in motels, paid for by donors.
John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.
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