During state wide Covid-19 regulations, warming centers are struggling to stay active.
As the temperature drops the need for shelter is becoming a necessity for thousands of house-less individuals. There’s a small chance some may not be able to find shelter during this cold time. COVID-19 regulations have dramatically affected how these shelters and partnering organizations can provide services to those living in the streets.
Tim Black the winter strategies coordinator for the Saint Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County, must deal with the loss of old sites limiting how many people can be in a room to a maximum of 50 people, including volunteers. The lack of volunteers is largely due to the average volunteers’ range for the Egan Warming Centers being between the ages of 50 to 80. “In a normal year when we have most of our other sites open it takes about 300 volunteers every night that we are open,” Black said.
The warming centers have been open for five nights this winter. “They’ve had 172 volunteers work at least one shift, compared to 3,480 volunteers last year. They operate with about 90 volunteers a night. Luckily the shelters haven’t denied access to anyone so far, but they fear that they’ll soon start to as winter approaches,” Black said
On Dec. 1, Reverend Gallagher of St. John Episcopal Church in Springfield opened its doors to 14 people in need of shelter with the help of volunteers from the Egan warming center. The small church only has a capacity for a maximum of 20 people. “We are very grateful that we can open our doors to those in need,” Gallagher said.
There are currently four Egan Center locations in Eugene, and one in Springfield. Two buildings at the Lane Events Center, St. Vincent de Paul on 11th, and the youth site at First United Methodist Church. St. John Episcopal Church is located in Springfield. giving the Egan Center a total capacity of 130 adults and 25 youth. There’s currently a discussion with Eugene’s 4J and Bethel School districts to utilize the empty gymnasium space. “We appreciate our school partners offering with our unhoused neighbors during the pandemic,” Black said.
Due to liability issues, warming centers are mainly focused on people over the age of 18. Houseless youth and families can receive assistance from the cold through Saint Vincent’s first place family program and annex found directly in front of the Egan Warming Center. They provide childcare services during the day and help families find shelter during the night.
Winter will be one of the toughest for the Egan Warming centers. They are still doing everything they can to provide the help they always have but need as much community support as they can get. From donations of gloves, socks, sweaters, jackets, sleeping bags, old or used tents, or even money to provide meals to the less fortunate.
If you’re interested in volunteering please go to www.eganwarmingcenter.com. They are providing training courses via zoom as well as in-person training for those who lack the technological resources. or more information on how you can help their email is eganwarmingcenter@svdp.us
