WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Columbia winter shelter opens for new year

Columbia winter shelter opens for new year

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - It may only be fall, but the winter shelter in Columbia is up and running. We've got an inside look at what it takes to get the place going and with close quarters how swine flu will come into play.

It may remind you of summer camp or army barracks, but it's not run by drill sergeants or camp councilors, it's run by volunteers.

"In 2007 and 2009 we saw a 16 percent increase of people who are literally on the street homeless," said David Parker from the USC School of Medicine.

USC, Cooperative Ministry and the City of Columbia are all in on the shelter.

Volunteers from the University of South Carolina have been here diligently cleaning this place making it sanitary

Sanitation may be a prime concern to the co-ed shelter because of the much-discussed H1N1 virus.

"H1N1 is a concern because people who are homeless have a greater risk of contracting disease because of exposure to more communicable diseases," said Parker.

There will be a big supply of sanitizer, but the shelter has not gotten word as to if they'll get the vaccine.

Sick or well, the doors are open and because of the economy, it's not just the people who come in who are asking for the vaccine, it's the people who run the place.

Copyright 2009 WIS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.