short-haired dog, cold weather...

Question
We are doing our best to care for a female plott-hound mix that was abandoned here.  She is registered with the local animal adoption and rescue agencies, but they are overloaded.  We are fostering her while she waits for a family better suited to her needs, but it's been 18 months now...  We simply do not have the ability to have her indoors.  We live in a VERY small house, and can't be home during the days.  We've tried bring her in at night, but she tries to chew and claw her way out.  She made it through last winter outside, albeit in a heated house with heated water dish.  This year, we've constructed a much better house, well insulated, with a double entrance to trap the warm air, and a snug loft design, lined with deep faux-fur.  Problem is, she won't sleep in or even near the house.  She's fine with going inside to play, but chooses to sleep in a shivering pile on an open patch of dirt she's cleared.  Our other dog, a malamute/husky mix with enough fur to supply Alaska would love to go in, but we're trying to reserve the space for Miss short-hair.  We can guide her into the house, pet her, praise her, and coax her to "lay-down" and "stay", but as soon as we step away, she returns to the middle of the yard and spends the night there.  If it weren't for the shivering and overall pitiful appearance, we'd just assume when she gets cold enough she'd go in, but it's going into the 20s these nights, and there she lays.  In another couple months, we'll be seeing sub-zero temperatures.  We've tried putting food in there - she goes in, eats it, and leaves.  I've considered chaining her to a cleat inside for a few hours, but that feels inhumane - so does watching her freeze.  Ideas?

Answer
Hmmm. Maybe she's just not comfortable with that style of house, Harland. Maybe she wants to be able to see out (who knows?!). Do you still have the one you used last year? If so, will she go in >>it<< if you put it out there?

I would opt for confining her in some way, whether that's chaining her to a cleat, as you said, or putting her in a secure crate, in the house over letting her freeze in the yard. It's not inhumane as long as it's just for a short amount of time.