PORT TOWNSEND — Continued cold weather could prompt the Jefferson County Winter Shelter to open its doors early to those without a place to sleep.
The shelter in the basement of the American Legion hall at 209 Monroe St., Port Townsend, is due to open for the season Sunday, but it could shelter people some nights this week if the mercury drops too low.
Those in need of shelter are urged to check daily after 3 p.m. for updates at 360-531-0112.
If the Port Townsend temperature falls below 36 degrees, the shelter will open at 4 p.m. that day, said deForest Walker, co-chair of the Community Outreach Association Shelter Team, or COAST.
COAST operates the shelter along with Olympic Community Action Programs, or OlyCAP, and the Marvin G. Shields American Legion Post 26.
“It depends on the weather, but it could get way too cold for people to sleep outside or in their vehicle,” Walker said.
“It’s been below freezing a couple of nights here,” already, she noted.
“Every single day, we’ll have an outgoing message.”
Renovations have added women’s restrooms on the lower level of the American Legion hall and enhanced the kitchen to the point that it now has a county health department designation as a donor kitchen, Walker said.
“If it wasn’t for the renovations, we would have opened this week, but we just finished installing a new stove and making it possible for us to take both men and women,” Walker said.
The shelter — which provides food, a place to sleep and showers — is accessible from a driveway to the right of the American Legion Hall.
It is free. Those using the service “are our guests,” Walker said.
“In every way you can think, they are our guests.”
Check-in time is 4 p.m. and extends no later than 5 p.m. Guests must leave for the day by 8 a.m. each morning.
If the shelter is open this week, only a limited amount of food will be available.
That will change Sunday, when the shelter will provide overnight guests with dinner, breakfast and lunch to go.
For the first time in two years, woman can stay at the shelter. They had been staying at another site, which is operated by OlyCap.
“Now, we’ve added women’s restrooms and women’s dorms,” Walker said, “and we can accommodate both men and women.”
Organizers estimate they will shelter up to 22 men and between six and eight women each night. But that’s not a limit.
“We will never turn anyone away even if we are at capacity,” Walker said.
“If there are no beds, we’ll provide a place for them to sleep so they don’t need to be out in the cold.”
The shelter is only for adults. No one under 18 is allowed.
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.
This is the ninth year COAST has operated a shelter. The American Legion has provided the space for eight years.
It is scheduled to operate through March. It will be open later in the season if the weather remains cold.
Throughout the season, COAST coordinates more than 500 volunteers from faith-based communities, civic groups, businesses and interested individuals.
Walker said the shelter depends on service and support groups for its operation.
“The community has been compassionate and generous,” she said.
Volunteers are trained and screened. Two are on duty each night to attend to the guests. They are required to stay awake during their shifts.
To volunteer or contribute, call 360-796-0420.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
Managing Editor Leah Leach contributed to this report.
