A change by the Anchorage Assembly will provide more overnight housing options for the city's homeless in cold weather.

KTUU reports the Assembly on Tuesday night voted to increase the temperature at which churches can open their doors to become another homeless shelter.

Before last night's vote, churches could not open in that capacity unless it was 32 degrees or colder. Now, they can open their doors at 45 degrees or colder.

The municipality's homeless coordinator, Darrell Hell, advocated for the change. He says most of the recent outdoors deaths of homeless people occurred in the autumn or spring, when temperatures were in the 40s.

Four churches are part of the program.