Portland Warming Shelters Close Despite Persistent Cold

A decision by Multnomah County officials to shutter overnight winter shelters this week left hundreds of unhoused Portlanders out in the cold and other service providers scrambling to find alternate shelter options.

As Nicole Hayden explains in The Oregonian, “By policy, Multnomah County opens winter shelters when temperatures are forecast to dip to 25 degrees or below, if snow accumulation is forecast to reach an inch or more or if an inch or more of rain is forecast to fall overnight with temperatures are at or below 32 degrees. The thresholds must persist for four hours or occur between 8 p.m. and 7 a.m. to trigger shelter openings, according to the county.”

“Unhoused Portlanders, advocates and nonprofit leaders across the region expressed grave worry and frustration over the county’s decision to cut off access to safe spaces while wet, windy and icy conditions persisted.” People living outside face dangers ranging from hypothermia to the risk of fires and smoke inhalation inside tents.