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Billboards guide the way when temperatures drop

"We're trying to make sure that the folks that need to stay warm and don't have a place to go to readily know where to go when the temperatures drop."

MINNEAPOLIS — While many have the option to stay inside tonight, others have no place to go to get out of the cold.

That's why Hennepin County's stepping in with a unique partnership in hopes of keeping everyone safe.

Most billboards are used for the purpose of advertising, but when those bitter cold temperatures hit our area, these billboards that just debuted last month — serve a much greater purpose.

"We're trying to make sure that the folks that need to stay warm and don't have a place to go to readily know where to go when the temperatures drop," said Clear Channel Outdoor President Dan Ballard.

Ballard says the billboards are temperature sensitive, automatically turning on when the windchill gets below 10 degrees.

The idea was first introduced in Europe.

“Once I heard about the program that Sweden was doing within clear channel, I thought that's perfect for Minneapolis," Ballard said.

Right now, the billboards are only in Hennepin County, but Ballard says he hopes to branch out to other counties in the metro.

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According to a 2018 Wilder Foundation Study, there are at least 4,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in Hennepin County.

“Last year, this time in Hennepin County, there was large encampments hasn't happened so far this year,” Ballard said.

Ballard added that a simple street sign with just a few words and a couple numbers can make all the difference in making sure those in need are taken care of.

“We here in Minneapolis that work here are also members of the community and anything we can do to help improve the community we live in, that's right up there at the top of our initiative as a branch and as a company," Ballard said.

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