Cold Blue Remains In Effect In Buffalo As Frigid Temps Blow Into Western New York

Winter weather and colder temps have hit Buffalo and Western New York with a vengeance the last few days, which has people all over the region scrambling to make sure they have what they need to stay warm and healthy in the 716. The weather has been pretty cold the last few days, and it always has an impact on the day-to-day lives of people who live, work, and relax in Western New York.

Sub-freezing temps and high winds always have a way to make travel difficult around town. Now, while snowplow drivers and ski resorts are loving this weather, most other folks in the 716 and 585 are just trying to find their way.

Even with Buffalo being the City of Good Neighbors, the Western New York region has a serious and persistent problem with homelessness all over the region. While some people want to say it's just a city problem, it's in fact a regional issue that impacts everywhere from Amherst to Allentown.

One of the downsides of Buffalo's booming housing market is that the rising rents around the Empire State have made it especially tough for people to find safe and sustainable housing, and as a result, we've seen the number of folks living on the street increase year-over-year.

READ MORE: Western New York Has New Code Blue Shelter Available

Now that it seems that winter has fully set in around Western New York, folks struggling to find safe housing are in extreme danger.

Buffalo Has Issued A Cold Blue Every Day This Week

With the continuing blast of winter weather we've had, and will continue to have in Western New York, a Code Blue has been issued in Buffalo and Erie County.

According to the WNY Coalition for the Homeless, a Code Blue is Erie County and the City of Buffalo's cold weather emergency safety plan that provides outreach, transportation, shelter, and a warm meal to individuals in our community who are unhoused on evenings when temperatures or wind chill fall to 32 degrees or below.

As the temperatures in Buffalo dip below freezing, officials are opening up daytime emergency warming centers and overnight shelters to allow people to come in from the cold. The primary Cold Blue shelter, which is located inside the Buffalo City Mission, is located at 100 E. Tupper Street in downtown Buffalo will be open from 8:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. Other shelters across the region will also be open as the weather is expected to be extreme.

You can find more information about the Code Blue system and donate to help those in need here on the WNY Coalition for the Homeless website.