MWVCAA's Cold Weather Shelter 2017-2018

By Sarah Owens and Michael Livingston

 

In October 2017, the Mid Willamette Community Action Agency (MWVCAA) said they were going back to Plan A for an overnight warming shelter/center, namely relying on the same downtown churches, specifically the First Christian, Congregational and Presbyterian to host, using the same "prevent-death" guidelines.  

Deputy Director asked "key stakeholders" (TSA, UGM, other Emergency Housing Network members, Salem PD & FD) to commit 12 staff hours to "support" the "Lead Volunteer" in opening and closing duties, in order to relieve MWVCAA, who would otherwise be responsible.  (See here at p 20.)

But by December, the community was in a bit of an uproar.  See "The Perennial Overnight Warming Shelter Problem." Sorry, MWVCAA seemed to say, that's the best we can do.

Single Night Only Warming Shelter

Then, on Monday, February 12, MWVCAA announced they would be opening an emergency warming shelter in the new ARCHES building, based on the forecast of an overnight low in the 20s.

Just like that:  no requirement of 32 volunteers, no emergency declaration from the City, no 3 consecutive days below 27.

Turns out, as everyone suspected, none of that stuff was really necessary.  They could just "do it."  Goodbye guidelines.

The Men's Mission turned people away Monday night.  

Because They Wanted To

There were 27 at the emergency shelter, which got moved to First Christian Church shortly after MWVCAA announced the decision to open one at ARCHES.

There wasn't even a frantic call for volunteers.

"We are good on volunteers", CRP Director Jimmy Jones posted to FB in response to offers of help, "We are using mostly my staff." As if by magic, there was no more perennial problem.

MWVCAA opened another overnight warming shelter on Sunday, February 18 through Wednesday February 21.

First they said it would be at ARCHES, but the venue was quickly switched to First Congregational Church (two nights), then to the First Christian Church's Morgan Building (third night).

They asked for experienced/trained volunteers, about 10 per shift, and got about 7 per shift, according to the sign up sheet.

Altogether this season, there were ten shelter nights in three locations downtown:  First Christian, First Congregational and First Presbyterian, with an average of 76 guests per night.  See here at page 40.  

The Oregon Community Foundation recently gave MWVCAA $7,000 to support the overnight warming shelters, which MWVCAA says they will use to purchase replacement blankets and mats.