High temps mean local shelters are filling up

By: Thema Ponton | SCNOW
Published: June 10, 2008

The hot temperatures on the Grand Strand mean just about everyone searches for a cool spot.

But not everyone is fortunate enough to have a place to go to cool off.

For some of the homeless people in Myrtle Beach, there's nowhere to go.

The director of a local shelter said the last couple of days have been very busy, mainly because of the heat.

Libby Faulkner, executive director of the Street Reach Mission in downtown Myrtle Beach says she doesn't like to turn people away, but when the temperatures start climbing, space at the mission is on a first come, first served basis.

Faulkner said, "There’s a lot of people on the street, a whole lot we've, we've had to turn people away today that need a place to stay but don't have the room."

And even though the air conditioner at Street Reach is broken and they are cooling off with fans, Faulkner said it's a better place to be for many people who don't have anywhere else to cool off.

"They’re living in the woods, it's hot, it's bug infested, it takes their hope, their dreams, it takes everything away from them, their self-esteem." said Faulkner.

Soon, people looking for shelter at Street Reach won't have to sleep on the floor on mats, or stay in crowded conditions, in about a month; they are going to move into a new building that will have twice the space and a working air conditioner.

"I can't stand the thought of anybody being homeless or hungry because I’ve been both, so it's tough out there, it's tough in this world, it's hard to make a living." said Faulkner.

The new Street Reach Mission is scheduled to open at the end of June.