St. Anthony's In San Francisco Opens Doors To Homeless During Storm, Providing Nearly 3,000 Meals
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – The storm that has hit the Bay Area is wreaking havoc on roadways, has caused flooding throughout the region, and has caused thousands of customers to lose power. One part of the population affected the most is the homeless.
In San Francisco, with the help of generators for much of the morning, St. Anthony's was able to keep the lights on and the stoves lit.
St. Anthony's In San Francisco Opens Doors To Homeless During Storm, Providing Nearly 3,000 Meals
"A lot of people need to get in off the streets. St. Anthony's provides a place for them to come eat but even more so now, tonight we'll open up the dining room for people to come in and stay and sleep on some cots here that we'll put out," said Barry Stenger, Executive Director at St. Anthony Foundation.
The generators were installed as part of the new space St. Anthony's opened in October.
"We understand the situation that they're in. St. Anthony's has always been there for people who are out on the street," said Stenger. "And being out on the street today is not a place to be."
Lily Hill Turner, who is in a wheelchair, said she has an even tougher time in the rain.
"I just hate getting soaked with that water. Cause it aches my bones being in the cold," she said. "If it wasn't for St. Anthony's, a lot of people would miss a meal."
The San Francisco Homeless Outreach Team is also spending Thursday night transporting the homeless to emergency shelters. A number of churches across the city are expected to remain open during the day Friday to accommodate people in need of shelter.
