Mount Pleasant’s homeless population seeks shade in summer months

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The summer’s long, hot days present unique challenges to the local homeless community after spending the winter warding off chilling nights.

In order to stay cool during the heat waves, the homeless population seeks shelter in a variety of places.

“A lot of (homeless people) meet people who let them spend the day with them,” said Salvation Army office manager Bethany Smith.

She said others will go to the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen, 621 S. Adams St., local stores or to the Chippewa River to cool off.

In July the kitchen served 238 homeless families, said Irene Little, emergency services program manager for the Central Michigan chapter of the American Red Cross.

The soup kitchen provides continental breakfasts and hot lunches seven days a week to anyone who comes in.

Although Isabella County provides services to the homeless population, there is still not a homeless shelter in the county.

“If someone needs long term assistance, we refer them to Midland, Lansing or Saginaw,” Smith said.

The move to another area can be difficult if the person has strong ties to the region, she said.

Little said some of the homeless population survives by couch surfing, staying with family or friends or sleeping in vehicles.

Those who have absolutely nowhere to go will be housed by the Salvation Army in a hotel for up to five days, Smith said. For the last month, 17 to 20 families have been placed in hotels with grant money.

The Salvation Army, 1717 S. Mission St., also provides a place to cool off from the heat, a shower and easy-to-eat food, if it is available, she said.