Homeless man dies on shelter's steps amid frigid temps

Chris Kenning | The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Cold weather has devastating impact on homeless As much of the U.S. faces below-average temperatures, organizers race to find a warm place for the homeless. Shelters open their doors to try and keep people safe and warm, at least for a night.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When the season's first cold snap hit in November, Kenneth Winfield arrived at Louisville's St. John Center for Homeless Men — his hands icy cold after sleeping outdoors.

"He started crying," recalled Maria Price, executive director of the day shelter. "He said, 'Please help me find an apartment. I don't want to die out there.'"

Winfield was found on the steps of the St. John Center amid sub-zero temperatures Thursday night and later died, Price said.

"It's heartbreaking," she said Friday.

The Jefferson County Coroner's Office said an autopsy and cause of death were pending.

Price said Winfield was 49 and had been homeless for years. Like many of the chronically homeless, he had battled mental illness and substance abuse, she said. Recently, he had been sleeping in a tent with a girlfriend in a wooded area near downtown.

While they could have sought refuge at one of the city's homeless shelters, which open extra space during cold temperatures, they apparently were among the dozens of homeless who often stay outdoors no matter what the conditions, Price said.

Price said Winfield's girlfriend told her they'd gone past the center at night but, for reasons that aren't clear, she continued on to their tent while Winfield remained behind. Louisville Fire responded to a report of a "man down" around 8:30 p.m. He was taken to University Hospital, where he died the following day, Mayor Greg Fischer said.

"The homeless, as I've said, are particularly vulnerable in this weather," he said. "And we've been working to get as many off the streets as we possibly can."

Price said Winfield had applied for a federal supportive housing program that provides a rent voucher, counseling and social service support.

However, during an assessment as part of the application process Winfield "didn't score high enough to be considered the most vulnerable," Price said, so he was still waiting for an opening. She said officials at the center, whose 70 vouchers are all full, were continuing to work to find him space in other housing programs.

"It once again points to just this horrible choice we're forced to make when we don't have enough supply to meet demand," she said.

Winfield had been a client at St. John for at least four years, Price said, describing him as congenial and friendly. He wanted to serve as an ambassador for the center.

"He'd take a garbage bag around the block and pick up trash. He wanted us to be good neighbors," Price said.

He and his girlfriend had been planning to get married, Price said, and Winfield's girlfriend told her they were planning to ask if the ceremony could be held at St. John.

"We're all deeply saddened by this," said Chris Poynter, a spokesman for Fischer, who had visited St. John this week to highlight the plight of the homeless.

Officials at Friday's weather briefing noted that police officers were looking for the homeless along with groups including the YMCA, the Veterans Administration and Wayside Christian Mission.

Natalie Harris, director of the Louisville Coalition for the Homeless, urged residents to contact her group if they wished to volunteer and advocate for more affordable housing.

"He was invisible to most of us because he was homeless," he said.