Winter homeless shelter fundraising to stay open

In Covington, a line was forming in front of the Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky on Scott Street. The shelter opens daily at 6 p.m. There are 71 beds inside, but on a cold night nobody who needs help will be turned away.  "If it wasn't for the cold shelter taking me in, I don't know what would have happened to me. I probably would have died on the streets or taken my own life," said Nora Elliott. She was formerly homeless and now volunteers at the shelter. Executive Director Kim Webb said it costs $20 per night to house a person, leading to an annual cost of $320,000. The shelter is 92 percent privately funded. Donations make up the difference.  Last year, the shelter helped 650 people with 11,000 nights of housing from November through March. So far this year, 200 people have spent 2,000 room nights in just six weeks.