The rationing system at the Lancaster Community Shelter worked on a simple principle: priority to those who slept on the street the night before.
They lined up on the right. Everyone who had a bed the night before lined up on the left and got a raffle ticket. When the doors opened around 4 p.m. the right line went in first. Then those on the left were called by number until the shelter was full. Usually about a dozen were turned away.