As New York City endures its coldest weather in two years, homeless individuals are increasingly taking refuge in subway stations rather than facing overcrowded shelters or harsh outdoor conditions. Jason Pettigrew and Dom Wilson opted for the L train, citing shelter overcrowding, while Rose Williams noted she prefers the warmth of the E train despite outreach efforts urging her to seek shelter. Experiences like theft and unsatisfactory conditions in shelters deter many from using these facilities, highlighting the challenges faced by the homeless during extreme winter weather.
"It's freezing, freezing cold," the 34-year-old homeless man told THE CITY while crossing 14th Street on a Brooklyn-bound L, where he nestled against friend Dom Wilson, who wrapped herself in a blanket. "I mean, we could go to drop-in centers or shelters, but they're already full - and no park tonight."
Rose Williams brushed off the repeated efforts of a pair of homeless outreach workers who tried to convince her to go to a drop-in center by saying, "It's too cold to be out here." The 57-year-old told THE CITY she prefers to ride the E train all night - "it's a little warmer," she said - over going to a shelter or a drop-in center.
Williams, who said she has been homeless for five years since a series of surgeries turned her into 'a raging addict,' cited a recent stay at a drop-in center that ended with her methadone bottle and some personal belongings being stolen. "My brand new hat, scarf and gloves that I paid for after panhandling for a couple of hours - gone," she said. "The shelters are awful, they really are."
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