City partners with Southern Oregon Jobs With Justice to operate shelter as needed through end of the year
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
The night before Thanksgiving the city of Ashland announced it has secured a partner and a location to open its severe weather shelter, the city announced late in the day Wednesday, Nov. 27.
In a partnership with nonprofit Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice operating the shelter and the First Presbyterian Church of Ashland at 1615 Clark Ave. offering use of the church’s Calvin Hall, the city will be able to operate a severe weather shelter through the end of 2024, the release said.
“This collaborative effort will operate a severe weather shelter from November 27, 2024, through December 31, 2024, offering safe overnight accommodations as dictated by temperature thresholds. … The shelter, located at the Church’s Calvin Hall, will be managed by SOJWJ, with support from the City, to ensure a safe and respectful environment for those in need,” the release said.
A city resolution says the city is to provide shelter during severe weather conditions, which during the winter is defined as when the weather drops below 32 degrees or if other conditions such as wind, snow or rain constitute a risk to human health. The opening of a shelter is called at the discretion of the city manager “or their designee” and is contingent on availability of resources, according to the resolution.
The city of Ashland has struggled to round up those resources — largely a space to operate a shelter and the partner to manage its operations, as previously reported by Ashland.news.
In addition to falling temperatures expected this time of year, the National Weather Service has predicted an “arctic blast” with temperatures expected to drop below freezing throughout the remainder of the week, according to the city release.
Lows for Wednesday through Sunday nights, respectively, for Ashland were forecast to be 28, 28, 31, 31 and 34, according the NWS as of Wednesday evening.
The shelter will operate from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. when activated. It will open at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and close at 7 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 2.
“This is a low-barrier, no frills, overnight shelter for anyone needing to get out of the cold. Shelter is coordinated and staffed by Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice employees and volunteers at all times,” according to a Nixle alert from the city.
Southern Oregon Jobs with Justice will offer free training for volunteers on the evening of Dec. 4. For more details, visit the organization’s website.
To receive shelter notifications, text “97520SHELTER” to “888777.” For information on homeless services in Ashland and to stay abreast of shelter openings, visit ashlandoregon.gov/HomelessServices.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at morganr@ashland.news.
Nov. 29: Updated to reflect that the city announced Friday, Nov. 29, that the shelter would also be open Sunday night, Dec. 1. Look for updates on what nights the severe weather shelter will be open on the Ashland.news calendar at ashland.news/events.
