Emergency warming centers are open in the Twin Cities, for those needing to get out of the cold.
In downtown Minneapolis, the Harbor Lights shelter brought in extra beds, while other parts of the facility are used as warming areas during daytime hours.
"We open our chapel during the day as a warming center," said Dan Fury of the Salvation Army, which operates Harbor Lights. "They're welcome to come in, get warm, and stay as long as they like."
Youth Link operates an emergency warming center as well downtown Minneapolis, serving young people from the ages of 16 to 25.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, agencies in charge of homeless shelters throughout the Twin Cities have been allowed to expand into hotels to follow social distancing rules.
Chris Michaels of Catholic Charities says that has led to a larger number of beds for people trying to get out of the bitter cold.
"That has allowed us to make room in the traditional congregate shelter setting and in the hotel environment," she said. "We're really well-positioned to keep people safe. There's been a lot of effort by outreach providers and law enforcement entities to make sure that those who are outside have already been brought in."
Michaels says the crush of people searching for a warm bed in these frigid conditions only exacerbates the homeless crisis.
It's a crisis, she points out, is one that exists all year long.