Don Pickel works a job and has owned a house for 13 years, but that didn't stop him from becoming homeless last month.

Pickel and his wife, who lived in a home they owned outside of Norman, split about three weeks ago. She kept the house, and since then he's been living on the streets of Norman.

"I never thought I would be divorced or homeless," Pickel, 51, said Wednesday as he waited for the free lunch at Food and Shelter for Friends, 104 W. Comanche St.

Pickel kept his job, but doesn't have enough money yet to pay for all the deposits and other expenses related to getting a new place to live. So he's spent a few nights with friends, but many in the park or under bridges, while he's working and trying to save up enough for a place to stay.

"I'm spending as little money as possible, saving as much as possible, trying to find a home," Pickel said.

But it's been hard bearing the summer heat over the past few weeks. He works in the evening, so he's tried to stay cool during the day by taking long rides on the air conditioned CART buses and spending time in the Norman Public Library.

The dog days of summer present special problems for the homeless in Norman.

The risk for heat stroke and severe sunburns increases, said Christy Blair, executive director of East Main Place, 1100 E. Main St.

Also, many people who are homeless have some sort of mental health issue for which they take medication. But heat decreases the effectiveness of that medication, Blair said.

Another risk during the summer is the danger of foot infections, said Kasey Churchwell, case worker at Food and Shelter for Friends. Sweaty feet and no socks combine to create blisters, and when those aren't cared for they can lead to serious infection, she said.

As a result, a great need at FSFF is flip flops and sandals, she said. Also, if people wanted to help they could donate bottles of water or summer clothes.

One man arrived at FSFF this week wearing a sweater and jeans, even with the temperature in the 90s, Churchwell said.

"He's desperate for a T-shirt," she said. The organization was going to let him pick from its donated clothes, but the options weren't guaranteed to fit him, she said.

"It's hot outside and it's not healthy for you to wear the same thing every day," she said.

Social service budgets are always tight, but this summer donations have seemed even more scarce, Churchwell said. That's probably owing to the slower economy, she said.