PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Winter Shelter opens for its 10th season today, providing people without shelter a warm and safe place to stay during the winter months.
The shelter, which operates through the middle of March, is located in the basement of the American Legion, 209 Monroe St., and is accessible through a door down a driveway on the building’s north side.
“This is one of the places where the rubber meets the road,” said Carl Hanson, co-chair of Community Outreach Association Shelter Team (COAST), which is one of the shelter’s partners.
“It provides a hands-on connection with people and meets a need,” Hanson said, adding that “getting to know the guests and volunteers is also very rewarding.”
The shelter operates through a cooperative agreement among COAST, Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP) and the Marvin G. Shields American Legion Post 26.
Volunteers
It involves about 500 volunteers from faith-based communities, civic groups and businesses, as well as individuals.
Some of the volunteers take over running the shelter for a week or two at a time.
“We are so grateful to OlyCAP and to the American Legion for joining us in making the shelter possible,” said COAST co-chair deForest Walker.
“Nobody should have to live outdoors in the winter weather we experience here, especially not our senior citizens, military veterans and physically disabled folks,” she added.
Adults seeking shelter should arrive at check-in at 4 p.m. and no later than 5 p.m. with all guests required to leave at 8 a.m. each morning.
Each guest receives a hot meal each night, breakfast and a bag lunch.
There is no limit to the number of days guests can stay.
Walker said several guests stay in the shelter all winter. The ability to have a warm place to sleep and a shower allows them to keep a job, she added.
Two sections
The shelter has two sections segregated for 22 men and six women, although the space can be rearranged to move more women into their room.
Walker said no one will be turned away from the shelter during a bad weather situation, adding that no one has been turned away because the shelter is over capacity.
The American Legion has provided the space for all but the first year of the decade of the winter shelter.
“Port Townsend is not a good place to be homeless,” Walker said.
“We are small and have limited services compared to other areas, and as a smaller community, we don’t get as much grant money from the state, and there is also a lack of affordable housing for anyone who might be homeless.”
It is this lack, Walker said, that costs the community. If such housing were available, it would save law enforcement and emergency room costs, she said.
“It’s pretty simple to offer people the resources they need and get them hooked up with medical care,” she said.
“And the community is enhanced when everyone has housing and no one has to live on the street.”
The shelter is only for adults. No one younger than 18 is allowed.
Who to contact
Families in need of shelter should contact OlyCAP, Walker said, while domestic violence survivors needing housing can contact Dove House.
OlyCAP’s housing services number is 360-385-2571. For Dove House, phone 360-385-5292 or 360-385-5291.
Walker said financial contributions are especially welcome this year because of rising utility costs.
To contribute, phone 360-796-0420.
Those without spare time or little extra money can contribute in a small but necessary way.
“We can always use clean, warm socks,” Walker said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
