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Residents and service providers urge Port Townsend to keep Winter Welcoming Center open beyond April 15
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Summary
Multiple nonprofit leaders and residents told the council the drop-in winter welcoming center serves dozens daily and supports referrals, safety and employment; staff agreed to return analysis and the council indicated a likely special meeting to consider extending services.
Ben Castler, manager of the Winter Welcoming Center, told the council that the center’s services have extended beyond cold-weather needs and now support a broader set of vulnerabilities.
"The winter welcoming summer was created to adjust the cold weather needs, but what we've learned is that the need extends far beyond winter," Castler said, urging continued operations and partnerships that stabilize guests and reduce pressure on emergency responders.
Julia Cochran, who runs the Winter Welcoming Center at the Pope Marine Building, said the center has seen increases in numbers and vulnerability: "Our normal season is November through April 15, but plans have changed... They’re asking us to stay open because they don't know where they'll spend the 8 hours a day when the shelter is closed." Commenters and local housing leaders urged the council to consider year-round drop-in services, arguing those facilities increase referrals to housing and employment services.
City staff responded that analysis and options could be brought back to a special meeting (the city indicated a likely meeting on the 13th) or the council could schedule a special session to hear a full staff report. The council did not adopt a final policy at the meeting but directed staff to prepare information and possible options for continued operations, partners and costs.
