Stevenson Warming Shelter Preparing To Open Its Doors; Seeking Volunteers!
The Stevenson Warming Shelter is preparing to open soon to provide a safe and warm overnight space for homeless persons during the cold winter season. The facility will initially operate 5 days a week from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. in a location adjacent to the Hegewald Center at 710 SW Rock Creek Drive.
“We are targeting our opening for Monday, December 21,” said Curt Gray, Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) Manager, Skamania County Housing Programs. “The weather demands opening as quickly as possible, but the program depends on securing a significant and reliable force of volunteers that all need to be vetted,” he said. Anyone interested in serving as a Warming Shelter volunteer is encouraged to call (509) 281-1129 or email the new Coordinator, Jessica Van Leuven, at jessica@wagap.org.
When staffing allows, the facility will extend its operations to be available 7 days a week. Four separate rooms are available for use on a first come, first serve basis with one room large enough to house a family. Standard COVID-19 precautions and practices require that rooms can only be occupied by members of the same household. The facility includes a bathroom, shower, and small kitchen. Food preparation will not be allowed due to safety concerns, but the Shelter will provide various hot beverages and soups and food items, granola bars being an example.
“We are taking great measures to ensure safety for guests and staff of this shelter,” Van Leuven said. All guests will be required to complete a health questionnaire and have a temperature check. Masks will be required in any shared spaces. Hand sanitizer will be available for use and disinfectant will also be available to treat touched surfaces.
A WAGAP staff member or volunteer will be on site during open hours and a security system will be in place for everyone’s safety. Guests must check in between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. unless they are escorted by the police later in the evening. Doors are closed between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The Stevenson Warming Shelter is made possible with collaboration by WAGAP, Skamania County, The City of Stevenson, Southwest Washington Community Foundation, our community partners, and Skamania PUD.
For more information, or if you are interested in volunteering with any of WAGAP’s programs, please email info@wagap.org or call (509) 492-2662.
Washington Gorge Action Programs (WAGAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Community Action Agency dedicated to helping individuals, families, and communities address basic human needs in Skamania and Klickitat Counties. For more than 50 years, the organization has offered support services to help people help themselves and reach self-sufficiency. Learn more at https://www.wagap.org/. For additional information email info@wagap.org or call (509) 493-2662.
