Council for the Homeless is Grateful for Our Winter Shelter Partners
Each winter, we are reminded of just how powerful our community can be when we come together with a shared purpose. Throughout the 2024-2025 winter season, this purpose was to ensure that no one has to sleep outside in dangerous weather. During this time, we at Council for the Homeless connected 717 individuals to shelter and support services, providing a total of 17,948 nights of rest. Every single safe sleep represents a night when someone didn’t have to choose between freezing temperatures and survival.
We could not have done this alone. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the dedicated organizations, faith-based communities, volunteers, and staff who made this possible. From year-round shelters that stretched their capacity, to seasonal and severe weather shelters that opened their doors when the temperatures dropped — your compassion quite literally saved lives.
We expanded our Severe Winter Weather Alert threshold from 32 to 36 degrees, activating 41 alerts. This change allowed us to reach more people, more often, and earlier in the season. This shift that made a tremendous difference. Our community stepped up. The Chkalov Building and Vancouver Arts School, the Winter Hospitality Overflow (WHO) at St. Andrew Lutheran Church and St. Paul Lutheran Church, and Immanuel Lutheran Church provided essential winter support between November and March. Living Hope Church and the Salvation Army gave warmth and safety during declared severe winter weather alerts.
These shelters were more than just warm buildings — they were places of dignity, rest, and new beginnings. As our CEO Sesany Fennie-Jones said:
“These partnerships don’t just save lives, they give people the space to begin rebuilding.”
Even though winter has passed, our work continues. The need is still great. We are currently seeking donations of hygiene items, rain gear, tents, blankets, and items for our summer emergency kits. As we prepare for the hotter weather ahead, we have adjusted our heat threshold as well — now activating at 98 degrees instead of 100 — to better protect our most vulnerable neighbors during extreme heat.
We can’t do this without you. Whether you’re spreading the word about what we do or donating supplies, your support makes a difference. Together, we’re creating a community where everyone has a safe place to rest and the opportunity to thrive.
Let’s continue working together to prevent and end homelessness in Clark County. To read more, see our press release and coverage in The Columbian.
