Homeless man found dead in the cold in Burlco woods

When a homeless man was found dead in the woods Saturday in Burlington County, word spread through the Mount Holly shelter where he occasionally ate lunch.

Inside Extended Hand Ministries, where nearly 30 people stayed on cots in the cathedral and dining room, and the temperature hovered at 68, some people expressed sadness about Eugene Powell, said house manager Michael Gould.

But the next day, their focus turned to their own survival.

"They move on really quickly," Gould said. "They have their own struggle, and they need to put these things aside and continue."

Powell's death underscores the concerns at cold-weather shelters, some of which have filled to capacity in recent weeks as snow and - more often - frigid temperatures have gripped the region.

This week promises even harsher conditions. On Friday morning, the temperature could fall below zero for the first time in 21 years in the Philadelphia area. The forecast low, at least as of Tuesday, is 4 degrees.

Many counties have put "Code Blue" advisories into effect. They allow authorities to bring homeless individuals to warming centers or overnight shelters during below-freezing temperatures.

The action is more of a recommendation than a mandate - police and others can't force someone inside.

"Unfortunately, there are homeless people out there who will absolutely not come in," Gould said. "They know the beds are available. They know we have the facilities. But for whatever reasons, they'd rather be out there."

In the case of Powell, 59, a hunter found his body in a tent behind a convenience store off Route 206 in Southampton Township. The temperature had dropped to about 10 degrees that morning.

Powell was known to state troopers and, over the years, stayed in many different locations near Southampton, including in the homes of acquaintances, state police Capt. Stephen Jones said.

In a few previous bouts of extreme weather, Powell declined to take shelter indoors, Jones said. Authorities were not aware of his whereabouts this time. Powell's cause of death Saturday was unknown, and it was unclear whether he had family in the area.

"It's obviously a tragedy there," Jones said.

Amid the need for shelter in the cold, some homeless people have had to compete for space.

New Life Ministries, a church in Camden, has turned a few people away after reaching its maximum occupancy of 36, said Daise O'brien, who helps coordinate Code Blue efforts at the church.

"It's heartbreaking to turn some of them away from the door," she said, "because we're just at capacity."

She said the church had asked police to take an individual to a different shelter during overflow.

Once inside, the homeless people get a brief respite from the cold: blankets, a cot, breakfast cereal, and dinners of spaghetti and soup.