With nighttime temperatures expected to drop to 35 degrees and lower around Christmas, the question arises — during cold snaps, how should the community help some of the most vulnerable community members, those who sleep outside.

“Those are questions that are complicated and we are continuously trying to find answers,” said Grays Harbor County Commissioner Randy Ross.

Recent cold snaps have had the City of Aberdeen, the county, Grays Harbor Public Health and Social Services, community groups and religious institutions scrambling to find overnight warming centers to provide a place for the vulnerable to get out of the elements.

“It’s a very specific kind of service, low barrier, able to accept people who are usually not able to access traditional shelters,” said Karolyn Holden, Grays Harbor Public Health and Social Services Director.

Low barrier shelters have few rules as to whom they can take in, focused on safety for guests and the volunteers who staff them. People with addiction issues, behavioral issues, who may not be able to find shelter at a traditional location, like the Union Gospel Mission for one example, are among the most vulnerable in the community who need shelter from extreme cold weather.

“Because of the population we’re trying to serve it can be difficult to find and maintain a safe environment,” said Holden. “That’s tough to do even when everyone agrees to get it done.”

An attempt to establish a more streamlined process for warming shelters was made by the county last year. However, talks between the various entities involved broke down, the weather warmed back up, and the issue was set aside. Steps are being taken to put something in place yet this winter, but nothing is imminent.

“Steps are being taken to formalize the whole process since the County made a grant available to fund some staffing for this,” said Pastor Val Metropoulos of the Amazing Grace Lutheran Church. “Once that hiring is finalized, they will take the lead opening at the threshold temperature and getting volunteers. We’re looking for a permanent home for the shelter also and talking with several groups about the possibility of using their buildings.”

Metropoulos and her congregation are very active in establishing warming shelters and often take the lead in finding a suitable location for the specific needs of a warming shelter, and finding volunteers to staff it.

Currently, when the National Weather Service calls for overnight temperatures in the mid-30s, it can be the City of Aberdeen, the health department, Metropoulos and her congregation or other organizations to take the lead, finding a suitable location and volunteers to staff it. There is no single entity in charge.

In early October, the county formally put out a request for proposals for a low barrier cold weather shelter. The proposals were due back to the county Nov. 4.

The county is currently going through those proposals, “evaluating what we have received,” said Ross.

At its Dec. 3 meeting, the County Commission approved the use of the Pearsall Building in Aberdeen for use as a cold weather shelter when the temperature dips below 39 degrees. At that meeting the commission said it expected to enter a contract with the Coastal Community Action Program to manage a low-barrier shelter after the first of the year.

The Pearsall Building at 2109 Sumner Ave. was used Nov. 27-Dec. 2 as a shelter. The building houses the county health and social services department and a district court.

Because the City of Aberdeen has an established homeless tent encampment next to City Hall, and is where the majority of services in the county used by the unsheltered are centered, the city often finds itself using city staff to find a location and rally volunteers to staff them. Mayor Erik Larson expressed frustration in November when staff had to spend a great deal of time to establish a shelter and deal with a lack of coordination in the process.

“The City of Aberdeen is very frustrated they have to deal with most of the homeless issues and I understand the frustration, but at the county there are procedures in place so we don’t spend money willy-nilly, but thoughtfully and with purpose,” said Ross.

Holden said when it comes to funding for these and other shelters and services for the homeless, “there’s not enough to go around. It’s really important to have strategies in place to protect the life and safety of our most vulnerable people out there.”

While Aberdeen often bears the brunt, the County Commission is aware it’s not just an Aberdeen problem, but an issue that impacts all corners of the county and beyond.

“It’s not a county or city problem, it’s the whole community’s problem,” said Ross.

Funding for an emergency shelter is always a challenge.

“We never have enough for all the needs out there and there really isn’t a specific funding frame dedicated for emergency shelters,” said Holden. “The majority is from a state grant, and they want us using that money to get people transitioned out of homelessness, and an emergency shelter isn’t that. But it’s important when there are life threatening conditions like extreme cold or heat to try to carve out some more flexible funding” for things like emergency shelters.

Ross said the county has two sources of money for homelessness and affordable housing, and the bulk of it is tied up in other projects, leaving about $140,000 the county could use. He stressed he’s not saying to use those specific funds but it could be one possible source.

To volunteer at a cold weather shelter, contact Pastor Val Metropoulos at vmetropoulos001@luthersem.edu. Items like bottled water, non-perishable and soft foods, clothing and basic hygiene items for the shelters can be dropped off during normal business hours at the Pearsall Building, 2019 Sumner Ave., and the Coastal Community Action Program, 101 E. Market St.