FARGO - This city and neighboring Moorhead, Minn., have historically seen a decrease in the number of homeless people as the temperatures dip. But not this year.

"Just so many from out of town have been coming to Fargo-Moorhead in the middle of winter, and we don't know why," said Jane Lundeen, program coordinator of Fargo's Homeless Health Services.

Nurse June Lehr is seeing more homeless patients when she makes her rounds at Fargo-Moorhead shelters.

Part of that growth might be due to increasing awareness of the homeless health clinic and outreach nursing at local shelters, she said.

Last year, 1,328 women and children stayed at the YWCA of Cass Clay's shelter, an increase of 31 percent from the year before. The shelter's capacity increased by about 30 beds when it moved to its new center last April.

The New Life Center, a men's homeless shelter in Fargo, has seen a 10 percent increase in residents since the holidays.