Sacramento Chill Sends Many To Warming Centers, Though Some Still Choose Streets

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Bone-chilling weather has gone hand-in-hand with the start of the holiday season, sending homeless people in search of a place to warm up and get out of the cold.

People can be found on the streets of Sacramento every night, including outside warming centers like one at the Union Gospel Mission.

"It is like a lighthouse in the cold and sometimes dark city and it is a place of refuge," said Byran Pierce.

He lives in the shelter as part of the shelter's resident program. He stays there a week at a time, but is no stranger to the struggle.

"I had a job and got fired and couldn't cash the last check, so I did end up being homeless," he said. "I was already in a hotel trying to make it by and I ended up here."

The mission serves about 150 people, and more than half are people coming to its nightly shelters.

Even with the warmth inside, some take their chances outside in the cold to catch whatever sleep they can.

"People do die out on the streets, because of the cold," Pierce said. "It is very helpful for people to have somewhere to go at least get you through the night and get up in the morning and do what you need to do."