A piece of plywood for a roof, and a few old blankets for a bed. It doesn't look like much, but it's where hundreds in Abilene rest their heads every night .
"We would get all wet and possibly get pneumonia", says formerly homeless Larry Hulse.
Last year at this time Larry Hulse found himself living on the streets, and when the winter months hit, it wasn't only uncomfortable to be outside, it could be downright dangerous.
"I would put blankets down as a lining so I wouldn't have to sleep on the ground, because I've done that before and it was uncomfortable. But sometimes I would hear noises and I had to sleep with one eye open", explains Hulse.
Andrew Stevens visits the homeless regularly, and knows the cold can take many forms. From sleepless nights in camps, to small shacks without power, "The homeless will stay and live for months on end", says Stevens.
"The first word that comes to mind for someone to live in a place like this is fear", Hulse tells us.
The cold hits even where you'd least expect it.
Evelyn Ivy has known life on the streets before, and now even with a roof over her head, she still shivers through the winter months.
"Oh it's freezing cold. I just keep covered up and thank God I'm alive", says Ivy.
The hardest part about living without heat in the house? Explaining it to her little ones.
"I tell them to keep warm, get their coats on, get in bed and stay", Ivy tells us.
Through days of seeking shelter, and nights spent outside in the numbing temperatures, it becomes clear, for those without heat, anywhere they can warm up, will be home.
If you want to help out any of the local homeless people, folks at Love and Care Ministries, on Fannin Street, suggest donating blankets or sleeping bags to the local shelters, as they are in need this time of year.
"We would get all wet and possibly get pneumonia", says formerly homeless Larry Hulse.
Last year at this time Larry Hulse found himself living on the streets, and when the winter months hit, it wasn't only uncomfortable to be outside, it could be downright dangerous.
"I would put blankets down as a lining so I wouldn't have to sleep on the ground, because I've done that before and it was uncomfortable. But sometimes I would hear noises and I had to sleep with one eye open", explains Hulse.
Andrew Stevens visits the homeless regularly, and knows the cold can take many forms. From sleepless nights in camps, to small shacks without power, "The homeless will stay and live for months on end", says Stevens.
"The first word that comes to mind for someone to live in a place like this is fear", Hulse tells us.
The cold hits even where you'd least expect it.
Evelyn Ivy has known life on the streets before, and now even with a roof over her head, she still shivers through the winter months.
"Oh it's freezing cold. I just keep covered up and thank God I'm alive", says Ivy.
The hardest part about living without heat in the house? Explaining it to her little ones.
"I tell them to keep warm, get their coats on, get in bed and stay", Ivy tells us.
Through days of seeking shelter, and nights spent outside in the numbing temperatures, it becomes clear, for those without heat, anywhere they can warm up, will be home.
If you want to help out any of the local homeless people, folks at Love and Care Ministries, on Fannin Street, suggest donating blankets or sleeping bags to the local shelters, as they are in need this time of year.
