Cold forces more homeless into Porchlight shelter - WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and Sports

MADISON (WKOW) -- The bitter cold stretch could create life and death situations for people who are homeless.

Luckily, places like Porchlight's drop in men's shelter off the Capitol Square have their doors open.

The shelter, which is open from 5p.m. to 8a.m. every night, normally sees about 120 people this time of year.

But Monday it was much busier.

"Tonight already within the first hour we had 100 guests already usually we don't see that 'til like after the second or third hour so we're expecting probably the peak of the season," says Porchlight manager Preston Patterson.

He says when it gets this cold, they never turn anyone away, and will use every available space for someone to sleep.