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Temporary Warming Center Opens At Breukelen Houses Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced this week that due to the extended extreme temperatures and the number of homes that have been without heat, the City has opened nine temporary warming centers in partnership with the American Red Cross. These centers, nearly twice as many as were opened during previous cold emergencies, are located in areas of the city from which the highest concentrations of 311 calls for lack of heat have come in recent days. Simultaneously, the city's Department of Homeless Services has doubled its homeless outreach and temporarily suspended certain shelter intake procedures to let homeless individuals access any available shelter as quickly as possible regardless of whether a particular shelter's services match that client's needs. "Despite New York's historic gains reducing homelessness on our streets, when cold weather hits us and stays, we have to take extra measures," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The Office of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross are opening warming centers for New Yorkers without heat in their apartments or houses this afternoon, and for the first time, we are putting them in the areas that 311 calls are showing they are needed most," he added. "Our outreach teams are always trying to bring homeless individuals in off the streets. When the weather can put their lives in danger, we have to be especially cautious and diligent," said Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Robert V. Hess. The mayor advised New Yorkers without heat in their buildings - after calling 311 to report the problem - to stay with friends or family if possible. For residents without heat who have no other options, the city this week opened nine temporary warming centers. These centers were identified based on a geographical mapping of recent 311 calls for lack of heat, as well as any reports received directly by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. This is the first time 311 information has been used to select sites for warming centers, during past cold emergencies the city has opened a relatively centrally-located warming center in each borough. In the Canarsie community the warming center is located at: Breukelen Houses, 715 East 105th Street. For other warming centers in Brooklyn and other boroughs, call 311.
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