Severe Weather Shelters Close; Enhanced Outreach, Weather Monitoring Continues

Severe weather shelters have closed today, Thursday, Dec. 30, at 2 p.m., as severe weather thresholds are not forecasted for this evening. Departing guests will be provided TriMet passes and cold-weather supplies.

Anyone seeking alternative shelter options and other social and health services should dial 2-1-1. For updates and future severe weather shelter sites, check back at https://www.multco.us/cold. 

While severe weather thresholds are not anticipated to be met, cold temperatures are expected to continue. The Joint Office of Homeless Services together with Multnomah County and the City of Portland, will continue to monitor conditions and be prepared to reopen shelters should severe weather thresholds be met in coming days. 

Available resources

Outreach teams — including those from Transition Projects, JOIN, Janus Youth, Cascadia Behavioral Health and more — will continue to contact vulnerable populations and intercept people who may arrive at shelters after closing.  

The Joint Office Supply Center will remain open tomorrow and volunteers with appointments to obtain gear for distribution should keep those appointments.

Volunteers signed up to work this afternoon are asked to come and reset the shelters for potential future activations. Volunteers signed up for shifts tonight and tomorrow during the day will be contacted by phone and email canceling their shifts. 

Volunteers signed up for shifts Friday night and over the weekend are asked to remain on standby in case weather worsens or to help support demobilization. To sign up for future volunteer shifts, visit our https://www.multco.us/care-when-its-cold/winter-donations-and-volunteers.

If someone outside is unsheltered and whose life appears to be in danger, call 9-1-1. 

If you see someone about whom you are concerned during cold weather, such as not being dressed for the weather conditions, call the non-emergency response line at 503-823-3333 and request a welfare check.