Bethel’s homeless shelter has opened a week early after a severe wind chill dropped the temperature to 40 below.
KYUK-AM reports that Bethel Winter House opened its doors on Monday, almost a week ahead of schedule.
The shelter serves meals and hot coffee to about a dozen people each night and also provides Bethel’s homeless population with coats and warm blankets.
According to a study done by AVCP Housing, there are around 600 homeless people in the region and many of them live in Bethel.
Winter House board member Ben Charles says the shelter decided to open because the risk of someone dying of exposure had become too great.
