FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH - Providing shelter is only half the battle of helping the homeless of Duluth in the winter.

Providing warm clothing and gear for the population that spends the winter outdoors is just as big of an issue.

"It's not exactly ideal to sleep outside during the summer months, but it's something you can put up with to sleep outside in the warmer months. Sleeping outside when it's negative five, negative 10 below is dangerous," Tim Peterson, financial of Life House, said.

More than 600 youth walk into Life House seeking services every year and one-third of those teenagers are seeking shelter.

CHUM is the largest provider of homeless shelter in Duluth, and they say they housed more than 900 individuals last year, which is the most ever in their 30-year history.

"This year has been a record-breaker for CHUM. There are higher numbers in shelters than, I think in history," Deb Holman, CHUM street outreach worker, said.

Peterson says there's a shortage for homeless shelters year-round because affordable housing in Duluth is not the best.

However, not all seek shelter from the freezing outside temperatures.

Many homeless in the Twin Ports braves the winter head-on.

"Sometimes there are people that choose to be outdoors and it takes a lot of time meeting with them before they make a choice to come inside. But the majority is barriers people face, the mental health issues and addictions," Holman said.

Both agencies stress the importance of donating cold-weather items and said tents, blankets, hand warmers, gloves and hats are always need and do not need to be brand new.