BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Homeless when the temperature drops below freezing is a yearly reality for Romeo. He's been out here for years.
"When it's like this and it's cold, mostly people, the homeless people, they've got to find somewhere to go, and you know, it's very hard," said Romeo.
Romeo is among the estimated 400 people living on the streets of Buffalo with no place to go during the day when the mercury drops. The Code Blue Collaborative is trying to change that. St. Luke's Mission of Mercy, Matt Urban Hope Center and Harbor House all take part.
"We have the Code Blue that's in effect from 8 p.m 'til 8 a.m. at the different warming centers, and then here at Harbor House there's a daytime warming center, that's what's going on now," said Jean Bennett, Code Blue Collaborative chairperson. "So from 8 a.m. 'til 8 p.m. they can be here for warmth, they can have some breakfast, lunch, dinner, do laundry, take a shower, get provided with different services in the community that would help them maybe get off the streets."
Daniel Auflick, director of the Matt Urban Hope Center, which is a member of the Code Blue Collaborative, says the challenge is getting the word out to those who need the services.
"Call 211 and 211 can relay them this Code Blue information and letting them know Harbor House is open during the day, and chances are if someone is down here during the day," said Auflick. "They will be taken care of when nighttime comes to get to where they need to go or stay here. I think that's the big thing. We just want to make sure everyone knows where to go and that no one is left out there because people do die. We've had clients die in this type of weather," said Auflick.