While homelessness is a serious issue all year, it becomes an especially pressing public health issue for local governments during the winter season. According to a report from the National Coalition for the Homeless, the homeless population is at great risk of hypothermia and other cold related illnesses, which can cause serious acute health risks and exasperate chronic conditions.  Here are some resources from the Knowledge Network and beyond to guide you in helping the homeless members of your community:

• Checkout how Fairfax County, VA, brought together the whole community to achieve their goal of no winter exposure deaths last winter.
• Need to see how your city stacks up in terms of homelessness statistics? The folks at Governing Magazine have you covered with this article.
• See what the City of Philadelphia does for the homeless in winter when it declares a “code blue.”
• Writing your own winter homelessness shelter plan? You can use this plan from Delaware County, PA as a template.

What does your community do to protect the homeless during inclement weather? Share your strategies in the comments below.