PORT TOWNSEND – Plenty of hot food, a warm place to sleep and friendly hospitality – that’s what can be found at the Jefferson County Homeless Shelter.
The shelter will open for the first time this winter at 4 p.m. Sunday.
It is in the basement of the Marvin G. Shields American Legion Post, Water and Monroe streets downtown.
At the suggestion of last year’s homeless guests, deForest Walker, Olympic Community Action Program housing resource manager, said the shelter is opening earlier and remaining open later this season than it did last year.
The facility will take overnight guests this year through March 7.
Last year, the shelter was open every night for 12 weeks from Dec. 10 through Feb. 24, serving a total of 55 individuals and averaging 10.42 guests a night.
This year, an average of 15 guests each night will be allowed at the shelter.
That number could be stretched to 18 on extremely cold nights, Walker said.
“We will have great home-cooking, hot dinners, breakfast and a bag lunch to go with the overnight stay,” she said.
Last year, the shelter drew homeless people from 18 years old to 68.
Fifteen cots were acquired at a discount price through Swain’s Outdoor in Port Townsend, Walker said.
“The MASH medical clinic operates every Tuesday night in the American Legion basement, and that works out well for our guests,” she said.
The shelter is intended for single adult males, with military veterans receiving priority.
“It makes sense,” Walker said.
“These are folks who have taken care of us, so it’s time that we take care of them.”
The extension of the shelter’s days of operation will mean that it won’t be necessary to provide tents and camping gear for homeless people to stay at Jefferson County Fairgrounds campground this year, Walker said.
After the shelter closed last year, an additional 10 nights of shelter for nine people was provided at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds campground.
