If you live in a brick-n-mortar home and get cold, you go to the thermostat and turn the tempture to a warmer setting. If you live in a tent, you may be without heat. If you are fortunate enough to have a heater and its a Lil Buddy heater, you may have to choose between being warm now and warm later.

The common heater for a tent takes a 16oz Coleman Propane Tank of propane. Each tank lasts about 4 hours. Last year, we did not have a program or the finances to support handing out propane. In 2022, we received donations for the purchasing of propane tanks. We hand-out up-to 19 tanks each night when the temperature is 32 degrees or less. Each person currently gets (1) canister a night. That is heat for for only 4 hours unless they have a buddy to share the tent. Then they have (20 canisters that will last them for 8 hours. Keep in mind that making tent warm when it is 20 degrees is challenging meaning that it may only be 35-40 degrees with the propane.

About 2000 homeless die each year from hypothermia or weather related illness. Most nights in January have been 20-30 degrees and many below 20. Propane has been hard to purchase as many locations have a limit of (2) canisters per customer. Due to the cost (about $90 for 19 canisters) and availablity we have only been able to provide (1) canister a night. Our goal is to provide (2) canisters per person each night.

What about heaters?

We purchased the locally available heaters; but unfortunately there were not enough for the need. More have been purchased and are on their way. Unfortuntely, that means that some are going without heat until the heaters arrive unless they can bunk with a buddy. Our goal for next year is to provide a minimum of (2) canisters per person/tent for each night, not only the nights that are 32 degrees or less.

Thank you to everyone who donated and continues to donate funds or canisters this Winter to minimize the battle of hypothermia within our tent community.