The Winter Hospitality Overflow shelter for families and single women will open for the season Tuesday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Vancouver. The men’s overflow shelter at St. Paul Lutheran Church in downtown Vancouver will open Thursday or Friday, said Lynn Johnson, who coordinates the WHO program. That’s because the space is currently occupied by the Women’s Housing and Transition shelter and will have to be switched over to the men’s winter shelter.
“It depends on how long it takes us to get things switched over,” Johnson said.
The plan was always to close the temporary women’s shelter at the end of October. It ran April 1 through today, providing beds for 12 homeless women.
Share and the Council for Homeless had hoped to find another space to house the women’s shelter, which was piloted this year to — at least temporarily — increase the number of shelter beds for single women. Although there were efforts to secure a different space, it didn’t pan out in time for the start of the winter shelters.
You Can Help
• Give money to the WHO program online at www.whoprogram.org. A donation of $8 covers a shelter night for one person.
• Donate cleaning supplies, such as disinfecting wipes, bleach, laundry pods and disposable gloves. The winter shelters also need new sleeping mats. Call Lynn Johnson at 360-200-8757 to arrange a donation.
• Volunteer to do laundry, help guests at the overnight shelter. The shelter is also looking for people who can lead group activities, such as making holiday cards or decorating cookies. Call Johnson to become a volunteer.
Get Help
• Are you in need of emergency shelter? Call the Council for the Homeless’ Housing Hotline at 360-695-9677
Options for extending the women’s shelter are still being explored.
Ten of the 12 women staying at the WHAT shelter are set up to transfer to St. Andrew, said Karen Youman, Share’s director of family shelters. One woman secured housing and the other woman is not interested in going to St. Andrew, Youman said.
There are a couple of key differences between the WHAT and WHO shelters. With part-time staff members on board, the WHAT was able to handle clients with higher needs by allowing women to stay there even if they arrive intoxicated and they could bring their pets.
At the WHO, on the other hand, pets are not allowed and guests cannot be intoxicated when they arrive. It’s primarily run by trained volunteers.
This year, volunteers can get more extensive training from the National Alliance on Mental Illness that will help them work with guests who have mental health issues, Johnson said.
Demand for emergency shelter has gone up 40 percent from last year to this year, putting pressure on homeless services.
“I imagine the WHO will relieve some of that pressure but not all of it,” Youman said. “We’re all set to open up Tuesday at St. Andrew.”
St. Andrew, which accommodates families and single women, can handle up to 50 people. St. Paul hosts 24 men and the cafeteria at Share House can house another 25 men for a total of 99 extra spaces in the colder months. Johnson expects St. Andrew to be full on the first night of the winter shelter program.
The city, Share and the Council for the Homeless have discussed creating more permanent shelter space. One option is converting Fire Station 1 at 900 W. Evergreen Blvd. into a homeless shelter. The station, which will be will be vacated after a new fire station is built, already has kitchen facilities and bedrooms. It won’t be available until at least late 2017.
