By adding five new churches and an additional week to is Winter Relief Emergency Shelter Program, organizers at Arundel House of Hope art trying to avoid something they did last year - turning homeless people away.

"We were sheltering 35 people and turning 36 away," Winter Relief Director Phil Bailey said.

"We had to do that for the first five or six weeks. This is so important, sleeping out in your overcoat, on the grounds is pretty painful and dangerous."

The program will begin its 18th year on Oct. 19. The season will last 25 weeks and involve 49 churches hosting the roving homeless shelter. In addition to the extra...