Severe weather and lack of assistance for vulnerable populations

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With temperatures dropping, it is important to care for our homeless population as they are most vulnerable to the severe weather conditions. Oregon winters can be dangerous with temperatures dropping below freezing at night. These low temperatures can put those outside at risk of health conditions such as hypothermia and frostbite. 


Last year shelters in Multnomah County closed due to “severe weather” which put many people without stable housing at risk. While warming shelters were still accessible during the day, having safe shelter at night is essential during these harsh weather conditions. Many houseless individuals were kicked out of the shelters and forced to sleep outside on the ice covered streets following the freezing rain. The county has “thresholds” that must be reached in order for them to open their severe weather shelters. These thresholds include temperatures of 25 ℉ or below, snow accumulation of one inch or more, and temperatures of 32 ℉ or below with one inch of rain or more overnight. These thresholds only apply from the hours of 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. if the listed conditions are forecasted for four hours or more. 


Due to these tight restrictions, many people had to rely on other resources, such as the Portland Central Church of Nazarene, which opened up their doors for those that needed a warm place to stay during the snow season. Unfortunately, these places often get overrun with too many people needing their services yet they don’t have enough room to house everyone. Once they get to their capacity, they have to turn people away. Unfortunately, there isn’t enough community outreach programs in the Portland area that offer to house people during severe weather, so the only other option is to remain outside in the cold. 


Rather than the county increasing leeway for the severe weather thresholds, they instead try and do more community outreach on the streets to help. This includes giving out warming supplies and letting people know directions to the warming shelters once they open.


In order to protect this vulnerable population, we must prepare for the cold temperatures and weather ahead of time. We need to have stable housing for our homeless population since winter is a dangerous time to be exposed to the freezing temperatures for a prolonged time. It is almost important to prepare for an influx of people needing services from housing assistance programs during this time of year. It is up to our county to keep our communities safe. 



Resources:

https://www.multco.us/care-when-its-cold 

https://www.koin.com/news/homeless/i-cant-feel-my-feet-portlands-homeless-face-cold-temps-ice-after-shelters-close/ 

https://www.opb.org/article/2024/01/17/portland-ice-storm-drew-unprecedented-need-from-unhoused-people/ 

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/portland-homeless-community-seeks-shelter-winter-weather/283-81794097-8000-448d-a432-31038243a8be 

http://www.portlandcentralnaz.org/ 


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