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Page 4 Decemeber 8, 2021 Severe Weather Shelters Readied Continued from Page 2 fice of Homeless Services that pairs heated sleeping pods outside with a traditional in- door sleeping space, allowing the facility to expand the number of people it serves. “With the pods in the parking lot and the beds inside, we’re going to be serving more of our unhoused neighbors this win- ter starting today because of this site,” said Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek, whose district includes the Arbor Lodge shelter. “Because lots of people over the last cou- ple of months have worked very hard to make this happen. Because none of us want to see our neighbors living on the streets.” As many as five locations will be im- mediately ready to open on nights when severe weather thresholds are met, offer- ing roughly 250 beds while also ensuring physical distancing and COVID-19 proto- cols. Secondary locations with hundreds more beds are ready to open should those initial sites fill, official said. The Joint Office declares severe weather on any night when temperatures are forecast to drop below 25 degrees, or on any night when the forecast shows freezing conditions and heavy rain or snow. On those nights, no one seeking shel- ter will be turned away. 211 will share alerts about shelter locations and hours. Street outreach teams will work to reach people in need with gear and information about shelters. Anyone seeking a ride to Established 1970 USPS 959 680 4747 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 The Portland Observer welcomes freelance submissions. Manuscripts and photographs should be clearly labeled and will be returned if accompanied by a self addressed envelope. All created design display ads become the sole property of the newspaper and cannot be used in other publications or personal usage without the writ- ten consent of the general manager, unless the client has purchased the composition of such ad. © 2008 THE PORTLAND OBSERVER. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITH- OUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. The Portland Ob- server--Oregon’s Oldest Multicultural Publication--is a member of the National Newspaper Association--Found- ed in 1885, and The National Advertising Representative Amalgamated Publishers, Inc, New York, NY, and The West Coast Black Publishers Association Multnomah County purchased the Arbor Lodge shelter site, a former Rite Aid, with one-time COVID-19 funding last year. But this year, thanks to funding from the state, the Joint Office of Homeless Services will operate Arbor Lodge as a 24/7 winter shelter for the next several months while it works to design and construct a long- term shelter on the site starting next fall. shelter can also call 211 and have trans- portation arranged. Unlike severe weather-only beds, winter shelter beds are open day after day, no mat- ter the forecast, from November/December through April. Just like with year-round shelters, winter shelters are available only through reservations. Anyone interested in accessing shelter should contact 211. Two of the seasonal shelters, the Wal- nut Park Shelter and the Downtown Winter Shelter, have been operating nonstop since last winter, thanks to COVID-19 funding and other local funding. Both have been able to continue providing space through- out the COVID-19 pandemic. Multnomah County purchased the Ar- bor Lodge site, a former Rite Aid, with one-time COVID-19 funding last year. The Joint Office and County previously oper- ated Arbor Lodge as an emergency shelter during snowstorms and heatwaves. But this year, thanks to funding from the state, the Joint Office will operate Arbor Lodge as a 24/7 winter shelter for the next several months while it works to design and construct a long-term shelter on the site starting next fall. PO QR code Publisher: Mark Washington, Sr. Editor: Michael Leighton Admin Coordinator: Quayuana Washington Office Manager/Classifieds : Creative Director: Lucinda Baldwin Kenya Anderson Reporter: Beverly Corbell Public Relations: Mark Washington Jr. Office Assistant/Sales: Shawntell Washington CALL 503-288-0033 FAX 503-288-0015 news@portlandobserver.com ads@portlandobserver.com subscription@portlandobserver.com Postmaster: Send address changes to Portland Observer , PO Box 3137 , Portland, OR 97208
