LITTLE ROCK (Dec. 30, 2017) – As Central Arkansas remains under a cold front generating below freezing overnight temperatures, the Little Rock Police Department and Little Rock Fire Department are prepared to help the city’s unsheltered residents deal with the cold over the weekend.

The Fire and Police departments are prepared to transport homeless residents to area shelters/social service providers as needed. Fire Department vehicles are stocked with blankets for distribution and police officers have added hand and foot warmers to the equipment they normally carry. The City initially purchased 300 hand warmers and 300 foot warmers and added another 100 each by the end of the day Friday.

Code enforcement officers have distributed 52 foot warmers and 15 hand warmers. Little Rock Police Department officers on the midnight shift passed out about a dozen warmers. Officers will continue to check on homeless residents throughout the nights when temperatures are coldest. Hand and foot warmers are also available at City Hall.

City staff has identified 20 agencies providing services over the weekend and holiday and stands ready to provide support as needed. For more information on service providers, contact Chris Porter, the City’s Homeless Services Advocate, at 501-379-1596 (office) or 501-353-4610 (cell) or email him at cporter@littlerock.gov.