19-02-2025
How effective is Lansing's Code Blue?
LANSING, (Mich.) WLNS — Being without a place to stay is always tough, but it's especially dangerous when temperatures plummet to below zero.
Today 6 News took a look at the city's cold weather emergency plan to see if it's keeping people safe.
'Code Blue' is a plan the city enacts to keep more people from venturing into the cold for long periods. The plan is currently in effect until 8 a.m. on Saturday.
Lansing extends current Code Blue cold weather emergency
The C.E.O of Julie Thomasma said they see more calls for help during code blue periods.
'Definitely an uptick in our 1-800 number people calling in needing help, needing services, but during these times especially we see a lot of people calling in and needing more help…' said Thomasma.
She said other shelters help them fulfill peoples' needs.
'Youth can call in, families can call in and we will make sure that they have the resources that they need to be safely housed and warm. So that may mean connecting them to a resource outside of our shelter here…' said Thomasma.
The opens as a warming center only during code blue, to help fill this need. City Rescue Mission executive director Mark Criss told me it takes a group effort.
'A lot of the people that are staying in encampments are coming in either going to the city rescue mission drop-in center or going to or Letts community center, so I think collectively, we're helping meet that need…' said Criss. 'Holy Cross has expanded capacity with the help of the City of Lansing as well…'
The city is in its second year of using Code Blue and is currently reviewing how to improve it. Kimberly Coleman, Director of Human Relations for the City of Lansing, said it's been a success so far.
'My heart goes out because I know it's cold out there… code blue has been a success, it has brought people together, it allows us to collaborate…' said Coleman.
Some would like to see similar support for shelters year-round, not just in the winter.
'It's good that we come together in cold weather, it's nice to be able to do that 365, so I think that's right around the corner. I think we're proving that we're doing it well collectively, and I think we can do that even better in the future…' said Criss.
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