The arrival of frigid temperatures adds to the challenge of being homeless, but locally, many unhoused people are seeking refuge overnight at Chatham Hope Haven.

“This is the first year we’ve been open overnight starting Nov. 1,” said general manager Loree Bailey.

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The shelter opened for overnight service a month earlier than last year and there already have been several very cold nights even though it’s not even officially winter, she said.

Bailey said many nights there are 60 people who come to the drop-in location at 183 Wellington St. W. and some nights more than 80 people have sought refuge.

“We haven’t seen numbers that high before” for overnight stays, she said.

“They’re coming in because it’s warm,” Bailey said “A lot of people just don’t have nowhere else t

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