Shoreline emergency severe weather shelter

Tent City in a February snowstorm
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

During the snowstorm of this past February, the overnight winter shelters across the region quickly reached capacity.

The City of Shoreline identified a need for an additional overnight shelter when weather conditions become extreme. 

In partnership with the North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA), the City is using a portion of the former Shoreline Police Station located at 1206 N 185th St as an emergency severe weather shelter this winter. 

NUHSA is recruiting and training the volunteers and providing needed shelter supplies. The City, in addition to providing space, is handling the permitting process and assisting with volunteer recruitment and training as needed.

The shelter officially “opens” on December 1. The threshold for activation will generally be a prediction of four-plus hours of temperatures at or below 33 degrees overnight or snow accumulation or expected accumulation of 2 or more inches. When activated, the shelter will be open from 8:00pm to 8:00am.

To make the shelter successful, we need volunteers to help staff it during activation. Committed and compassionate volunteers must be over 18 years old and commit to being on-call for a certain number of nights each month between December 1 and March 30.

Volunteers will be provided with training and then will be responsible for welcoming guests and supervising the shelter overnight (partial shifts can be arranged). Volunteers will be paired with another person during shelter activation.

If you would like to volunteer, email staff@nuhsa.org or call 206-550-5626. For more information about the emergency severe weather shelter, contact Community Services Manager Colleen Kelly at ckelly@shorelinewa.gov or 206-801-2251.

ADDITIONAL SHELTERS

In addition to this emergency severe weather shelter, there are a few overnight winter shelters that operate at different times over the winter in Shoreline and the surrounding area. These shelters open at 7:30pm each night they are in operation.

WINTER SHELTER DATES AND LOCATIONS:

November 1-28; January 31 - March 1
Faith Lutheran Church
8208 18th Ave NE, Seattle

November 29 - January 1
Seattle Mennonite Church
3120 NE 125th St, Seattle

January 2 – 30
Lake City Presbyterian Church
3841 NE 123rd St, Seattle

March 2-30
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
14514 20th Ave NE, Shoreline

For information on space availability, call 425-677-9370.

FAMILY SHELTER:
Mary’s Place operates shelters year-round for families with children. Contact them at 206-245-1026.