Lubbock's Tent City prepares for upcoming winter

            "These tents stand up so well to the wind," Van Loan said. "It's amazing."           

The residents of tent city are preparing today for another cold and windy Lubbock winter."

But Tent City manager Cliff Van Loan said the army surplus tents that were donated by churches last year have held up better than anyone expected.

Van Loan said their main concern now is keeping people warm while they are sleeping.

"A warm bed is really critical for surviving the winter our here," Van Loan said.

 Since its opening almost two years ago Tent City continues to stay full of residents.

 "We stay full if we have an empty tent it doesn't stay empty very long," Van Loan said.

Major Tim Grider with the Salvation Army said their shelters are also running out of space but there are other ways they are providing for the residents of Tent City.

    "We have breakfast and we have dinner," Grider said. "We serve that to the public so those folks who are just twelve blocks away if they are in need of that, throughout the winter, throughout the bad weather, the cold weather they are able to come take advantage of that."

            But Tent City is working on building more facilities on site so they won't have to rely on charities like the Salvation Army.

            Van Loan said the bathrooms and showers should be completed soon and the next project will add a kitchen for residents to use.            

            Despite some of their set backs Van Loan said Tent City is just like any other neighborhood.

"We have those who don't get a long," Van Loan said. "We have those that get a long. Great little minor disputes crop up all the time. It's just like any other neighborhood. I don't see any difference."