Temperatures in South Georgia are expected to reach new lows in the coming week. For local fire departments and shelters this means finding ways to keep the homeless warm and safe.

Ronnie Mathis with the South Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness says the homeless population has increased significantly in the past year.

“It’s our responsibility to make sure that none of the homeless people in our region are outside this time of year so the homeless don’t get frost bitten or anything like that.”

Mathis says cities in South Georgia do their best to keep the homeless out of dangerous vacant or dilapidated buildings. But recent fires in Albany show that the homeless still use them to keep warm.

Tags: homeless, South Georgia, cold weather, South Georgia Coalition to End Homelessness