WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — With temperatures dropping, it's becoming much more dangerous to stay outdoors. But for some, it's one of their only options. The homeless population in Wichita is feeling the cold more than most. The Homeless Outreach Team's (H.O.T. Team) goal, first and foremost, is to get people into shelters. It may seem simple on the surface — if it's so cold outside, why not go to a shelter? — but it can be more complicated than that. The H.O.T. Team are in a race against time. Once the sun goes down, the day's high temperatures of sub-20 degrees become warm by comparison. "Some people don't have the proper equipment. A lot of them, you know, out in the elements only have a tent or may not even have a tent. That can become very dangerous so those are the things we're checking on," Officer Nate Schweithale, creator of the H.O.T. Team, said. When single digit weather is on the forecast, Officer Schweithale and his team are busy bouncing between camps. They check on regulars and answer calls from new contacts. They're doing their best to get people off the streets and into shelters. But, picking up and leaving isn't always the easiest choice. "If you're not going to use the shelter, 'why?' Those are the things we can think about, how do we overcome those barriers," Officer Schweithale said. The emergency winter shelter only allows two bags of possessions per person, so leaving belongings behind and temporarily parting with pets factor in to the decision to leave. "Obviously, if they're leaving a campsite, you know, [they] downsize. And that's what we want and we're going to work with them to help them get into some housing vouchers that will ultimately help them get their own place so they can have storage for those types of things," Officer Schweithale said. Shelter and vouchers for reduced rent are helpful, but come with their own complications. It can be hard to start renting with no income and employers often won't hire if you don't have reliable transportation or a permanent address. Leaving things behind opens them up to being stolen by others or cleared by police. It's a decision with bitterly high stakes: stay and risk freezing, or leave what little you have left for a warm bed. The homeless don't always take the latter, despite the officers' pleading. Officers talk talk with one homeless man "The gentleman over here talked about how he had frostbite and now his hands are number and he's losing the ability to use his hands, do simple tasks," Officer Schweithale said. The gentleman was one of a few in a camp on St. Francis and 3rd. St. He told about how he can no longer go to the bathroom without peeing on himself, due to frostbite in his fingers. Often times, all the team can do is offer a number. "All of us get to go home and be warm or get inside our car, and these people are out here all the time when it's cold and trying to navigate a lot of the resources and when it's this cold it's hard to do that," Officer Schweithale said. He and his team encourage anybody stuck in the cold to make the decision to go to a shelter, and not to hesitate to call 911. Any officer, not just the H.O.T. Team are required to provide transport to a shelter.