Residents and volunteers urge city to provide winter shelter as warming center options end

Several residents and volunteer organizers told the Washington City Council that Washington is entering the cold season without a warming center and urged the city to identify a heated building the community can use this winter.

The appeals came during the meeting's public-comment period Monday night, when speakers described recent volunteer efforts to feed and shelter people who are unhoused and asked the council to partner with them to provide a stop-gap facility. “This issue isn't going away, and this issue needs your attention,” Bill New, a First Ward resident, said. “As a community, let's come together to help love our neighbors.”

Why it matters: Speakers said existing volunteer-run efforts and past sheltering arrangements ended in recent years, leaving the community without a place to shelter people on the coldest nights. Volunteer groups said they have capacity and funding but need access to a heated building — suggestions included a fire station, gymnasium, warehouse or motor pool building — and any operational terms the city requires.

What speakers said: Tim Warren, who identified himself as a representative of Unity in Community, a coalition of churches and social service providers, told council members, “At any given time, 25 to 30 people live outside in the open in the city of Washington.” He said many of those people have local ties and that economic or health issues often push residents into homelessness.

John Lamping, who said he is involved with the Harvest Table volunteer group, said a prior arrangement that used a hospital building as a temporary shelter ended and that Peace Lutheran had provided shelter more recently but is no longer able to do so. “We're without a warming center in this community for the first time ever,” Lamping said, and he warned of potential emergency-room visits, frostbite and deaths if a shelter is not found.

Speakers described prior ad hoc solutions and community fundraising following the COVID-19 period; one speaker said a prior GoFundMe raised more than $70,000 but that those funds are now spent. Volunteer groups said they can supply staff and food and are asking only for authority and a facility from the city.

Discussion at the meeting: Council members asked clarifying questions about past arrangements and about whether local motel owners remain willing to accept vouchers. A council member said they had not personally spoken to American Inn's owner and that others on the dais had not confirmed whether that motel was still willing to provide space.

What's next: Several speakers asked the council to act at upcoming meetings to identify and approve a facility for winter sheltering. Council members did not adopt a specific plan during the meeting. Organizers asked the council to meet with them after the session and to consider a city-managed or city-approved facility for the coldest nights.

Ending: Volunteer organizers and residents said they will continue fundraising and volunteer recruitment and expect to return to council meetings for updates and to press for a short-term shelter solution this winter.