By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
Sunday night into Monday morning, the temperature on the streets of Sioux City was just 3 degrees, -17 if you account for wind chill.
Early Monday morning, police officers found 2 people sleeping in a stairway of the Transportation Center. Three were found sleeping at a parking garage on Jones Street.
Because when the air becomes just too cold to survive, the homeless have to sleep somewhere.
Mike Wood, of Henry Muller Hall, said, "On these really cold nights, if there's people out there, the police will arrest them and take them to jail to give them at least a couple days, or take them to the hospital or whatever it is."
Mike Wood knows a thing or two about living without a home.
He's been the Housing Director at the Henry Muller Hall, a transitional home for homeless men, since it opened in 2005.
He's also been homeless.
"Long story short, I ended up in my car, on my clothes and without a home in the city of Chicago," said Wood.
Wood had a good job, but also suffered from alcoholism, bipolar disorder and social anxiety disorder.
He was lucky enough to afford a car, so he slept there most nights. But he was still cold.
"It is dangerous, particularly when you bring alcohol into the formula because if you have enough alcohol in you it makes you more likely to succumb," said Wood.
One way you can help the homeless this winter is by stopping by the "Hang Your Hat" statue on 4th Street.
Sculptor Ken Peterson designed and made the sculpture.
The purpose is to hang up something that keeps you warm, and someone in need will pick it up.
Ken Peterson said, "Over the years, I've put gloves and hats and even non-perishable foods, tomatoes from the garden and they're always gone. Its empty now because somebody took what was on it."
The sculpture is located on 4th St, just outside Little Chicago Deli & Grill.
