By Laura Ellsworth, Council for the Homeless
Forty-Nine. That is the number of nights that fell below the threshold of 32 degrees or forecasted freezing rain snow or ice this past winter. Winter in the Pacific Northwest is often mild and rainy, but this winter had an unusually high number of severe weather nights, compared to only 17 last winter. These are the nights when the lack of emergency shelter in our community can truly be life threatening.
Fortunately, Clark County’s communities of faith outdid themselves this winter season by inviting people inside and providing safe, warm sleeps and hospitality to hundreds of our community members who would otherwise be sleeping outside. These partners significantly expand the emergency shelter capacity in Clark County during the winter. This incredible undertaking requires planning, hundreds of volunteer hours, and many practical resources like laundry, bedding, food, and cleaning supplies.
The Winter Hospitality Overflow has opened each winter for 16 years. They depend on more than 1000volunteers each season to provide emergency shelter for 75 people nightly between November 1 and March 31 at two locations. St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Orchards welcomes women, couples and families and St. Paul Lutheran Church in Downtown Vancouver welcomes single men.
“Increasing the community’s ability to shelter people during the winter months is truly a community effort. Communities of faith step in and fill a tremendous need.”
Because of the increasing need for winter shelter in recent years, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church, and Living Hope Church, have also welcomed people and their pets inside out of the cold for the second year in a row. In east Clark County the Washougal Community Center, ReFuel Washougal, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, and the City of Washougal collaborated to provide shelter. Lord’s Gym in Vancouver joined the effort to serve during several of the coldest nights.
Increasing the community’s ability to shelter people during the winter months is truly a community effort. Communities of faith step in and fill a tremendous need. This season, they not only did they provide safe, warm and dry places for people to sleep, they provided dinner, breakfast, sack lunches, toiletries, and winter gear when available. Perhaps just as important was the hospitality that says, “Our community cares about you. You matter. Come inside.” Council for the Homeless board and staff continue to be incredibly grateful for our faith community partners who provide winter shelter each winter in the various capacities.
We are grateful for all of the organizations who participate in a coordinated approach to provide increased severe weather shelter capacity in Clark County. Partners began planning in the summer to make sure everyone had a safe place to sleep during severe weather nights.
211info, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, City of Vancouver, Clark County CRESA 911, Food With Friends, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Living Hope Church, Lord’s Gym, Outsiders Inn, Share, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, St. Paul Lutheran Church, and Washougal Community Center.
Be on the lookout for an event in the fall where you can learn about volunteering for any winter sheltering effort and assisting with other needs.