They know they can get up in the morning and just walk to resources,” Woolard said.
Randall Hitt with the organization Roof Above said they do have 19 shelter openings, but find some don’t use them. We find varying reasons why people may not choose to access shelter, Hitt said. To name a few of the most prevalent: struggles with mental health challenges might make it more difficult to sleep near others in a shelter environment; concerns about COVID-19 virus might make an outdoor environment more appealing; the structure of a shelter setting might be difficult when someone is in the cycle of substance use.