Shelters open voluntarily during recent cold snap

By John Vlahovich
Spokane Public Radio

Several Spokane homeless shelters opened overnight warming centers last week as nighttime temperatures plunged to near zero, made worse by high winds last Friday and Saturday.

Ed McCarron of the House of Charity says his institution opened its first floor Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights to more than 20 homeless individuals each night.

McCarron says staff members made special efforts to let Spokane’s homeless population know House of Charity would open its first floor as a warming center.

The Spokane city council late last year appropriated $5,000 to repay organizations that open warming sites. City officials are still finalizing its warming shelter policy.

But even without formal agreements with the city, the House of Charity, Women’s Hearth and Salvation Army shelters have voluntarily opened warming sites when weather conditions warranted.