Officials in San Jose, Sunnyvale and Gilroy are taking action to open up three emergency warming shelters. Together the shelters provide 275 beds for homeless people to spend the night away from the cold.
"This shelter primarily provides what we call 'two hots and a cot,'" EHC Life Builders spokesperson Hilary Barroga said. "So, a meal at dinner and a meal at breakfast and a place to sleep. But we also have partners that come in and provide medical services."
The beds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The number of people sleeping on the street in Santa Clara County jumped 18 percent this year, according to the most recent homeless survey.
Residents should protect pets by bringing them inside at night and can protect their plants by wrapping them up at night.
