Categories: FeaturesNews

Community Leaders Offer Shelter from Severe Weather and Ask for Donations

Portland, OR. Services for Portland’s homeless community are stretched thin as people head to shelters to avoid freezing temperatures. Still, some are falling through the cracks. On January 7th, police found a woman in her 50s who appeared to have died of exposure due to cold temperatures in the Smart Park parking garage, at 730 Southwest 10th Avenue. Earlier in the week, officers found a homeless man, identified as 51-year-old Mark Elliot Johnson, dead from hypothermia.

Officals are asking for your help. If you see someone outside, unsheltered whose life appears to be in danger or is in an apparent medical crisis, call 9-1-1. Otherwise, if you see someone about whom you are concerned, such as not being dressed for the weather conditions, call police non-emergency 503-823-3333 and request a welfare check for that person. To assist someone in locating shelter and transportation to shelter, please call 211.

The extremely cold temperatures and wind chill pose a danger to unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as exposed vulnerable individuals. The latest Severe Weather updates can be found by visiting www.211info.org/emergency#multnomah. For additional information on the dangers of cold including: hypothermia, carbon monoxide hazards and important information on the use of alternative sources of heat, please visit – https://multco.us/multnomah-county/news/dangers-cold

Another way to help is to donate funds or items to homeless shelters. During extreme cold weather there is increased risk of exposure-related injuries for unsheltered homeless people who do not have sufficient gear, such as coats, hats, gloves, footwear, tarps, sleeping bags and blankets. For information about what and where to donate, please contact 211info by dialing 211 or by visiting the website. Persons interested in donating cold weather gear and clothing should seek information at 211info.org/donations.

St. Francis Dining Hall is offering meals to about 150 guests.

Some local people are collecting cash.

Danielle Jocson, R.N., helped count socks at Legacy Meridian Park. Legacy Health collected more than 37,000 pair of socks for local nonprofits.

Courtyard Portland Downtown/Convention Center donated 60 new blankets.

Kids at Harmony Montessori School collected donations for Portland Homeless Family Shelters.

The following warming center facilities are available, many also accept donations.

TPI Imago Dei Shelter
1302 SE Ankeny Street, Portland 97214
Intake: Walk in. Check in anytime after 8pm.
Hours: Saturday, January 7, 2017 8pm-8am
Serves: Adults and couples age 18 and older

TPI Bud Clark Commons Emergency Shelter
650 NW Irving Street, Portland 97209
Intake: Walk in. Check in anytime after 8pm.
Hours: Saturday, January 7, 2017 8pm-8am
Serves: Adults and couples age 18 and older

Union Gospel Mission
3 NW Third Avenue, Portland 97209
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Saturday, January 7, 2017 9pm-5am
Serves: Unrestricted

St. John’s Warming Shelter
>>>ADDRESS CHANGE FOR WEEKEND<<<
St. John’s Christian Church, 8044 N Richmond Street, Portland 97203
Intake: Walk in, entrance is off of Central Avenue
Hours: Saturday, January 7, 2017 8pm-8am
Serves: Age 18 and older

St. Francis Dining Hall
330 SE 11th Avenue, Portland 97214
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Saturday, January 7, 2017 from 10am until Sunday, January 8, 2017 at 5pm
Serves: Unrestricted

Peace Shelter 2
333 SW Park Avenue, Portland 97205
Intake: Reserve a spot by either calling 503-280-4700 Monday-Friday 8am-4pm or walking in to the Transition Projects Day Center Monday-Friday 7am-6:45pm, Saturday/Sunday/holidays 8am-3:45pm (650 NW Irving Street)
Hours: 7 nights per week 7pm-6:30am throughout winter season
Serves: Individuals who identify as male, age 18 and older, with priority for age 55 and older, those with disabilities, and veterans

East County Building
600 NE 8th Street, Gresham 97030
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Saturday, January 7, 2017, 8pm-8am
Serves: Unrestricted, but single women and families are encouraged to try accessing shelters that prioritize women and families first

American Legion Post 134
2104 NE Alberta Street, Portland 97211
Intake: Walk in, recommended to call for availability due to limited capacity 503-284-7272
Hours: Saturday, January 7 from 10am through Monday, January 9, 2017 10am
Serves: Unrestricted

Portland Building Warming Center
1120 SW 5th Avenue, Portland 97204
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Saturday, January 7, 2017 7pm-7am
Serves: Unrestricted, pets allowed

The following year-round shelters are available:

Human Solutions Family Center
16015 SE Stark Street, Portland 97232
Intake: Walk in for intake (preferably between 9am-9pm) or call 503-477-9724 for information.
Hours: 24 hours per day / 7 days per week
Serves: Homeless families with children (any combination of adults with one or more minor children) and pregnant individuals in their third trimester

Portland Rescue Mission
111 W Burnside Street, Portland 97209
Intake: Walk in or call 503-906-7690 for information. Additional beds available for winter shelter
Hours: 7 days per week. Entry to year-round beds 5:45pm, winter beds 8pm
Serves: Male-identified adults

Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (SAFES)
30 SW 2nd Avenue, Portland 97204
Intake: Walk in or call 503-227-0810
Hours: 7 days per week 6pm-7am
Serves: Female-identified adults

CityTeam International
$5 nightly fee waived for Saturday, January 7, 2017
526 SE Grand Avenue, Portland 97214
Intake: Walk in
Hours: 7 days per week 5:45pm-7am
Serves: Male-identified adults

Gresham Women’s Shelter
16141 E Burnside Street, Portland 97233
Intake: Dial 2-1-1 to be added to a callback list when the list is open. The list is currently open.
Hours: 24 hours per day / 7 days per week
Serves: Female-identified adults

Porch Light Youth Shelter
1635 SW Alder Street, Portland 97205
Intake: Walk in or call Janus Youth Access Center at 503-432-3986
Hours: 7 days per week 8:45pm-8:45am
Serves: Displaced youth ages 14-24

Harry’s Mother Runaway Shelter
738 NE Davis Street, Portland 97232
Intake: Call 503-233-8111
Hours: 24 hours per day / 7 days per week
Serves: Youth ages 9-17

The following day centers are available:

Day Center at Bud Clark Commons
650 NW Irving Street, Portland 97209
Intake: Walk in or call 503-280-4700 for more information
Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-6:45pm, Saturday/Sunday/holidays 8am-3:45pm
Serves: Adults experiencing homelessness or very low-income adults

Anawim Christian Community Sanctuary Church
19626 NE Glisan Street, Portland 97230
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Saturday, January 7, 2017 noon-6pm
Serves: Unrestricted. Open to adults (singles and couples), with very limited space for families. Pets are allowed.

Salvation Army Female Emergency Shelter (SAFES)
30 SW 2nd Avenue, Portland 97204
Intake: Walk in or call 503-227-0810 for more information
Hours: 7 days per week 9am-8pm
Serves: Female-identified adults

Dignity Village Warming Shelter
9401 NE Sunderland Avenue, Portland 97211
Intake: Walk in or call 503-281-1604
Hours: 7 days per week 8am-10pm when temperatures are 40°F or colder or during heavy rains
Serves: Adults 18 and older

St. Francis Dining Hall
330 SE 11th Avenue, Portland 97214
Intake: Walk in or call 503-234-2028
Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-7pm, Sunday noon-5pm
Serves: Unrestricted

Outside In
1132 SW 13th Avenue, Portland 97205
Intake: Walk in or call 503-432-3986 for more information
Hours: Tuesday/Thursday/Sunday 1pm-6pm
Serves: Ages 18-24

CityTeam International
526 SE Grand Avenue, Portland 97214
Intake: Walk in or call 503-231-9334 for more information
Hours: Monday-Saturday 7am-6:30pm
Serves: Individuals and families

Saint Andre Bessette Catholic Church
601 W Burnside Street, Portland 97209
Intake: Walk in or call 503-228-0746 for more information
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:30am-11:30am, Saturday 9am-11am
Serves: Individuals and families

New Avenues for Youth (NAFY)
314 SW 9th Avenue, Portland 97205
Intake: Call the Access Center at 503-432-3986 to be screened
Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Saturday 1pm-6pm
Serves: Youth ages 15-24
Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA)
5135 NE Columbia Boulevard, Portland 97218
Intake: Walk in or call 503-288-8177 for more information
Hours: Monday-Friday 3pm-5pm
Serves: Youth ages 15-24

Portland Rescue Mission
111 W Burnside Street, Portland 97209
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Serves: Homeless adults

Catholic Charities – Housing Transitions
2740 SE Powell Boulevard, Portland 97202
Intake: Walk in or call 971-222-1880 for more information
Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-1pm
Serves: Unaccompanied female-identified adults age 21 and older

P:EAR
338 NW 6th Avenue, Portland 97205
Intake: Walk in or call 503-228-6677 for more information
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 8:30am-2pm
Serves: Youth ages 15-24 who are homeless or in transition

Rose Haven
627 NW 18th Avenue, Portland 97209
Intake: Walk in or call 503-248-6364 for more information
Hours: Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/Friday 8:30am-noon and 1pm-4pm, Wednesday 8:30am-noon and 1pm-3:30pm.
Extended hours during Severe Weather Monday-Friday 8am-4pm.
Serves: Serves single women and women with children

CLACKAMAS COUNTY

Clackamas County posts warming center openings daily as they are confirmed at www.clackamas.us.

Clackamas Service Center
8800 SE 80th Avenue, Portland, OR 97206
Intake: Call 503-771-7914 to confirm the shelter is open
Opening Criteria: Open when temperatures are predicted to be 33 degrees or lower or when other conditions, such as accumulated snowfall or high winds, make sleeping outdoors especially dangerous.
Hours: 7pm-7am when activated
Serves: Unrestricted

Estacada Community Fellowship
239 NE Main Street, Estacada, OR 97023
Intake: Call 971-235-5678 to request shelter. Those without a phone may use the phone at Granny’s Restaurant in Estacada.
Opening Criteria: Shelter opens by request when the temperature drops below 32 degrees.
Hours: 7 days per week 6pm-7am by request only
Serves: Unrestricted

Father’s Heart Street Ministry
603 12th Street, Oregon City, OR 97045
Intake: Walk in or call 503-722-9780 for information
Opening Criteria: Open when temperatures are predicted to be 33 degrees or lower or when other conditions, such as accumulated snowfall or high winds, make sleeping outdoors especially dangerous.
Hours: 7pm-7am when activated
Serves: Unrestricted

MARION COUNTY

Salem Warming Center Old Department of Energy Building
625 Marion Street NE, Salem, OR 97301
Intake: Walk in
Opening Criteria: Opens when Extreme Weather Guideline criteria are met:
-27 degrees F or below for at least 3 consecutive evenings or
-Snow of 1 inch of more sticking to the ground in most locations or
-Other times at the discretion of the Backbone Organization, such as wind chill, ice, flooding, or other factors representing a threat to those exposed to the elements
Hours: 8pm-6:30am when activated during severe weather
Serves: Unrestricted

Salem Warming Center Union Gospel Mission (Former BMW Location)
770 Commercial Street NE, Salem, OR 97301
Intake: Walk in
Opening Criteria: Opens when Extreme Weather Guideline criteria are met:
-27 degrees F or below for at least 3 consecutive evenings or
-Snow of 1 inch of more sticking to the ground in most locations or
-Other times at the discretion of the Backbone Organization, such as wind chill, ice, flooding, or other factors representing a threat to those exposed to the elements
Hours: 8pm-6:30am when activated during severe weather
Serves: Age 18 and older

Veteran Warming Shelter
4774 Lilac Lane NE, Salem, OR 97305
Intake: Walk in
Opening Criteria: Activated when temperatures fall below 32 degrees F for more than 2 nights or if there are more than 2 inches of snow on the ground
Hours: 4pm-10am when activated. Must check in before 9pm.
Serves: Homeless veterans

Salvation Army Lighthouse Warming Center
1901 Front Street NE, Salem, OR 97301
Intake: Call 503-585-6688 for availability. Shelter has limited space.
Opening Criteria: May be activated during severe weather notices
Hours: Call to see if warming center has been activated
Serves: Unrestricted

Center 50+
2615 Portland Road NE, Salem, OR 97301
Intake: Walk in or call 503-588-6303 to confirm opening for daytime warming center
Hours: Daytime warming center during periods of extreme cold: Monday-Thursday 7:30am-9pm, Friday/Saturday 8am-5pm
Serves: Unrestricted

Salem Public Library
585 Liberty Street SE, Salem, OR 97301
Intake: Walk in or call 503-588-6052 to confirm opening for daytime warming center
Hours: Daytime warming center during periods of extreme cold: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-9pm, Friday/Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 1pm-5pm
Serves: Unrestricted

TILLAMOOK COUNTY

Tillamook CARE Warming Center
Intersection of 5th and Miller Streets, Tillamook, OR 97141
Intake: Walk in or call 503-842-5261 to confirm severe weather
Opening Criteria: when a NOAA warning (not a watch) for coastal communities (not the ocean or beaches) is posted with enough time to secure volunteers by 3pm
Hours: 8pm-9am when activated
Serves: Unrestricted

WASHINGTON COUNTY

For a complete list of Washington County winter and severe weather shelters, please visit www.co.washington.or.us/homeless.

Boys & Girls Aid Safe Place Shelter
454 SE Washington Street, Hillsboro, OR 97123
Intake: Walk in or call 503-542-2717 for information
Hours: 24 hours per day / 7 days per week during severe weather
Serves: Ages 12-19

Calvin Presbyterian Church
10445 SW Canterbury Lane, Tigard, OR 97224
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Fridays December 2, 2016 through March 31, 2017 5:30pm-7am
Serves: Unrestricted

Forest Grove Sonrise Church
2835 19th Avenue, Forest Grove, OR 97116
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Wednesdays 7pm-7am until March 2, 2017
Serves: Age 18 and older

Forest Grove United Church of Christ
2032 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Mondays/Tuesdays 7pm-7am until March 1, 2017
Serves: Unrestricted

Rolling Hills Community Church
3550 SW Borland Road, Tualatin, OR 97062
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Wednesdays 6:30pm-7am until March 29, 2017
Serves: Age 18 and older

St. Anthony’s Catholic Church
9905 SW McKenzie Street, Tigard, OR 97223 (Chapter Room)
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Saturdays 5:30pm-7am until March 25, 2017 and severe weather days
Serves: Age 18 and older

St. Francis Catholic Church
The Old Hall, 15659 SW Oregon Street, Sherwood, OR 97140
Intake: Walk in
Hours: Sundays 5pm-7am until March 27, 2017
Serves: Age 18 and older

YAMHILL COUNTY

Newberg Emergency Shelter Zion Lutheran Church
301 S River Street, Newberg, OR 97132
Intake: Walk in or call 971-832-9408 to confirm shelter is open
Opening Criteria: Severe weather conditions are the following:
-30 degrees F or below, wet or dry
-Snow 1 inch or more thick, sticking to the ground in most locations
-40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, with driving rain of 1 inch or more
-Forecast of 3 nights or more at 32 degrees F or below, wet or dry
-Other times at the discretion of the Volunteer Managers, such as wind chill factor, ice, and other factors representing a threat to those exposed to the elements
Hours: 8pm-8am
Serves: Unrestricted

Yamhill County Gospel Rescue Mission’s The Shelter
1315 NE Macy Street, McMinnville, OR 97128
Intake: Walk in or call 503-472-9766 for information
Hours: 7 days per week 5pm-9am
Serves: Unrestricted

CLARK COUNTY

Council for the Homeless
Provides information and screening for the WHO (Winter Hospitality Overflow), and seasonal severe weather shelters.
Intake: Call 360-695-9677
Hours: Call Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday/Sunday 11am-2pm
Serves: Unrestricted

Living Hope Church 2711 NE Andresen Road. Vancouver, WA 98661 Intake: Walk in
Hours: Open Thursday, January 5, 2017 and Friday, January 6, 2017 from 6pm-8am. Dinner included.
Serves: Unrestricted

COWLITZ COUNTY

Love Overwhelming
Provides information and screening for seasonal severe weather shelters.
Intake: Call 360-749-8056 for information
Hours: Call Monday-Friday 8am-4pm
Serves: Unrestricted

Kelso Christian Academy 403 Academy Street, Kelso, WA 98626
Intake: Walk in
Hours: 6pm-8am when the temperature reaches 32 degrees
Serves: Unrestricted

Cowlitz PUD
961 12th Avenue, Longview, WA 98632
Intake: Walk in
Hours: 8am-5pm when activated
Serves: Unrestricted

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.