Warming centers will open in Multnomah County starting tonight -- providing emergency accommodations for anyone who wants to come inside from another storm that forecasters expect will bring snow, freezing rain and icy wind to the metro area. While conditions will vary across the region, severe weather is expected in Gresham tonight and in Portland starting on Wednesday, lasting through Saturday morning.
No one who wants shelter will be turned away. Anyone seeking shelter in Multnomah County should dial 211 or visit 211info.org/emergency/#multnomah to identify the closest available shelter and arrange for transportation. Callers may need to be patient if call volumes are higher than usual.
Severe weather warming centers accommodate individuals and couples, pets and belongings, and do not require identification or any other documentation. Families with children seeking shelter should call 211 to be directed to a shelter that can accommodate children.
Ongoing community effort
Leaders in Multnomah County, the city of Portland and the city of Gresham urge anyone who’s homeless to seek shelter during this cold snap. They also are urging the public to watch out for vulnerable neighbors living outside. Community support was immensely valuable during January’s historic snow storm and the days of freezing temperatures that followed, and we can’t stress how important that commitment to helping remains.
The combination of low temperatures and inclement weather raises the risk of exposure-related death or injury for unsheltered homeless people who don’t have sufficient gear, such as coats, hats, gloves, footwear, tarps, sleeping bags and blankets. Four deaths in the county this year have been attributed to hypothermia, as many as in the past five years.
A Home For Everyone staff monitor weather conditions and work with local nonprofits to open emergency warming centers as needed. So far this winter, hundreds of community members and volunteers from government agencies and nonprofit partners have provided shelter for hundreds of people. With months to go before winter ends, maintaining that community support — from help with staffing to supplies to transportation — will become even more precious.
A long winter
As of Friday, January 27, warming centers have been open 27 days since Nov. 1 — including every day from New Year’s Day through Jan. 18. That’s already more than double the 13 days officials opened warming centers for all of last winter. The centers were open just 15 days in the winter of 2014-15.
PERSONS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE: If you see someone outside unsheltered whose life appears to be in danger or is in an apparent medical crisis, call 911. Otherwise, if you see someone you’re concerned about -- such as someone who doesn’t seem dressed for the weather conditions -- call police non-emergency (503) 823-3333 and request a welfare check for that person. To generally help someone obtain shelter and/or transportation to shelter, please call 211.
Learn about the signs of conditions like hypothermia, which can mimic symptoms of impairment from drugs and alcohol. Read more hypothermia and other cold-related dangers, including carbon monoxide hazards and important information on the use of alternative sources of heat, at multco.us/multnomah-county/news/dangers-cold.
Multnomah County offers mental health crisis resources, at any hour, for anyone experiencing a crisis. Mental health clinicians can provide direct phone assistance to individuals experiencing a mental-health crisis including: escalated symptoms of agitation, anxiety, depression, psychosis, dangerous to self or others, substance use, etc. Call (503) 988-4888 or visit the Multnomah County Mental Health Crisis Intervention website for more information.
HOW TO HELP YOUR NEIGHBORS: Nonprofit partners are usually seeking donations and volunteers. But nonprofits often have limited space to accept donations and prefer to limit that capacity to critical supplies, such blankets, tarps, warm coats, hats, gloves and socks. For more information on donations, 211’s website, 211info.org, will have a list of providers’ most urgent needs. You can also visit Hands On Greater Portland or individual nonprofits’ websites.
CONTACT: Communications Coordinator Denis Theriault, Joint Office of Homeless Services, 510-875-8546, denis.theriault@multco.us