LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW)— With a dip in temperatures across the Commonwealth, the impending winter poses new challenges for those experiencing homelessness. This week’s dip in the temperatures serves as a stark reminder of the colder months ahead, highlighting the urgency for assistance. “There’s no thermostat for the folks living on the street to turn up,” said Ginny Ramsey the Director and Co-founder of the Catholic Action Center. While a winter program is set to begin on November 1st to provide warmth, many individuals will still face harsh conditions in the interim. With average temperatures falling below normal, those without shelter must contend with the cold. “And with as many folks that we have who are on the streets right now with the shelters full, waiting to start the winter program which will begin the first of November with will relieve some of the folks and have them in emergency housing. These 2 weeks in October can be quite painful as well as detrimental to folks health,” said Ramsey. The Catholic Action Center has mobilized to offer immediate support. After receiving a truckload of donated sleeping bags, the organization is working to keep homeless individuals warm during this transitional period. They report an increasing number of people sleeping outside in Lexington as winter approaches, underscoring the critical need for resources. “We’re excited to have the supplies available, we’re excited that we’ve been able to share them, so that we can start getting them out. We got them out this weekend, we have the compassionate care van going out tonight, tomorrow night, we’ll have other folks going out all week in order to share these supplies, to hopefully keep people warm,” said Ramsey. As the community braces for the colder season, local organizations are stepping up to address the immediate needs of vulnerable populations, emphasizing that the challenges of homelessness are heightened in the face of dropping temperatures. Categories: Featured, Local News, News Tags: catholic action center, Cold Weather, community support, homelessness, winter