Warming shelter to open next week

ROSEBURG, Ore. – An overnight warming shelter is expected to be open again next week in Roseburg.

The Roseburg Warming Center will open Monday, Dec. 12, at the Roseburg Senior Center, 1614 SE Stephens St. and is expected to be open each night through Friday, Dec. 16. The National Weather Service forecast currently predicts lows Monday through Friday of 28 to 31 degrees Fahrenheit, with patchy fog on some nights. However, the weather forecast could change, said warming center operator Kimetha Stallings.

“At this time, it looks like we will open each night through Friday night. Forecasts do change and we will continue to monitor them,” said Stallings, founder of Onward Roseburg. “I prefer the extended openings, many nights in a row. The guests have a rare opportunity to eat two hot meals daily and enjoy a warm cot nightly. The experience is restorative.”

Sixty cots are available for guests and volunteers. Check-in begins at 6 p.m., but unhoused individuals can arrive at the shelter at any time during the night, Stallings said.

A cot, blanket and pillow plus a hot dinner and breakfast are provided to anyone staying the night. Guests can stay until 8 a.m. each morning.

The senior center will provide a free shuttle bus that will make one circuit around town to pick up guests between about 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and then drive people back in the morning.

Local residents who are interested in volunteering can text Stallings at 541-236-2089 or comment on the Facebook post about the opening at https://www.facebook.com/Warming.Center.Onward.

No donations are needed at this time due to lack of storage space. The City of Roseburg is helping to pay for operating costs. In addition, the Roseburg Rescue Mission offers overnight shelter at 752 SE Pine St. all year.

The City’s Severe Event Shelter Policy, Resolution No. 2020-22, provides operational standards for organizations seeking City approval to open a temporary emergency shelter in buildings not designated as residential occupancy. Those operational standards include allowing a warming shelter to open during severe weather:

• on nights when the low temperatures are predicted to be 30 degrees Fahrenheit or less;

• or when low temperatures are forecasted to be 32 degrees Fahrenheit or less with additional factors that could increase a person’s risk of exposure to cold such as precipitation, wind, fog and sustained low temperatures.