It’s a while out, but as Game of Thrones said famously, “Winter is Coming.” More relevantly, fall is really starting up, at least here in New York, where I am. Amid the coming festivities over the next couple of months, the homeless will be taking on the burden of trying to survive in freezing temperatures.

Exposure to extreme cold in homeless populations significantly raises the risk of hypothermia, frostbite, and other exposure-related illnesses. These conditions can be immediately life-threatening and may also increase mortality from unrelated diseases later. People experiencing homelessness already face higher rates of chronic illness, mental health conditions, and substance use, which reduce their resilience to cold stress as well as access to the treatment they need.

For those without access to a shelter, the cold weather can be one of the most fatal threats to a homeless life. This once again shows us the need for such shelters to continue to be built and for the expansion of low-income/affordable/supportive housing.