City of Beaumont running buses as mobile warming stations, transportation for homeless
Published: Wed, 01/17/24
City of Beaumont running buses as mobile warming stations, transportation for homeless
City of Beaumont running buses as mobile warming stations, transportation for homeless
KFDM/Fox 4
by Mya Caleb
Beaumont — The City of Beaumont along with Beaumont Municipal Transit and first responders are taking extra precautions to ensure that the homeless stay safe during the hard freeze.
The city's main priority is avoiding homeless fatalities.
"We're running buses through the city to the homeless encampments giving the people that are homeless an opportunity to be transported and also be warmed, but to be transported to Some Other Place or Salvation Army," says At-Large Councilman Randy Feldschau.
Transit drivers man the buses from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., then refuel and switch out with first responders.
"At 10 o'clock the first responders were taking over and they're driving through the night, and so we got firefighters that are driving the buses and we got Beaumont PD that is offering security," adds Feldschau.
Members of the homeless population could face hypothermia or even death in the frigid temps.
One homeless man that lives near Some Other Place knows this risk for himself.
"I've been in Llano, TX and had to sleep in an abandoned house in 17 degree weather," says Chad Haley.
The city of Beaumont will run the mobile warming stations for as long as necessary.
"It's my understanding that we're gonna run the buses through today and tonight, then tomorrow being Wednesday, we'll monitor the weather and decide at that point how much further we go with that service," says Feldschau.
No fatalities have been reported so far.