In preparation for what is expected to be another busy season for the severe weather shelter, Bethel Church has announced it will relocate the shelter from downtown Centralia to the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.
The move will ease concerns expressed by business owners and citizens in Centralia and will also allow an increased occupancy for those who utilize the shelter currently known as the Hub City Mission severe weather shelter. On cold nights, the facility is opened to homeless and others with no place to keep warm.
Josh Gering, an associate pastor at Bethel who oversees the shelter, said it would also now serve the city of Chehalis.
“… It does just help ease the pressure for our downtown neighbors, but it also helps us serve not only Centralia, but Chehalis,” Gering said. “Had we not had the other issues, I think we would have already went this way in partnership with the cities.”
Last year, a recurring topic at Centralia City Council meetings was the presence of homeless individuals in the downtown corridor, which some claimed had caused problems.
Twin Transit will help transport the people in need of shelter from the cities to the fairgrounds for the night, then back the next day, officials said.
On Tuesday, the council approved a $3,000 contribution to establish the new shelter at the fairgrounds.
“I’m really proud our city is taking the lead in getting organizations in our community together on homeless collaboration,” Centralia City Councilor Peter Abbarno said at Tuesday’s meeting. “If we don’t do anything people are at risk.”
Abbarno requested the city discuss the matter in an e-mail to City Manager Rob Hill prior to Tuesday’s meeting.
The shelter will be located on the north end of the fairgrounds and will include two modular buildings — one for men and one for women. The area will be fenced and located next to restroom and shower facilities already established at the fairgrounds. The space will provide a more secure environment than the downtown location, Gering said.
Robert and Claudia Grimes will once again be the directors of the shelter after they took a one-year break. It’s their fourth year doing so, although last year the directors were Ralph and Joyce Carr.
County staff said the location at the fairgrounds will not interfere with other events held at the facility throughout the winter months because of its location away from the buildings typically utilized.
The county has donated the space for the modular buildings.
“It should be very little to no impact on the county’s budget,” Steve Walton, Lewis County director of central services, said. “It’s something that is mostly being borne by the city who is donating and Bethel Church.”
The men’s building will likely house 23 individuals, while the women’s building will have the ability to house 15 people. That expands the capacity to help men by four beds, and nearly doubles the number of women the shelter can take in, Gering said.
The buildings will be rented from Pacific Mobile for $670 a month per unit. Pacific Mobile will deliver, set up and pick up the buildings at no cost, Gering said.
The contribution from Centralia will help get the new shelter running. It is also funded through private contributions from church members and others who have donated toward the cause.
To make the shelter a success, donations will need to continue to support the program.
Hill estimated the costs associated with the venture will be about $15,000.
The council as a whole was in favor of contributing the money and in favor of the establishment of the shelter.
“I think it is a good beginning solution,” Centralia Councilor Joyce Barnes said. “It sort of gathers them together and they’ll feel better.”
Gering said the shelter should be ready for occupancy on Nov. 1. The severe weather shelter is only open from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. on nights where the forecast is expected to dip to 38 degrees or lower.
The facility will get people off of the streets and will save lives, he said. Last year, a homeless man died of hypothermia in Riverside Park.
“We welcome everyone,” Gering said. “It doesn’t matter who it is or what their background is.”
Last year was the shelter’s busiest. During the 88 nights it was open, more than 200 individuals were served with 2,760 bed nights.
“We are anticipating another busy year and are anticipating an increase in people because we are serving Chehalis now, too, so if we start bumping against capacity, we’ll try to address that and get more beds in there somehow,” Gering said.
Commissioners Edna Fund and Bobby Jackson supported the project. Commissioner Gary Stamper was not present at the meeting when the project was discussed in more detail.
“This is a good large community effort,” Jackson said.
Walton said the county is still working to finalize the agreement with Bethel Church for the space.
The project could not have been completed without the partnership between the city, county and the church, officials from the various organizations said.
During the Centralia council meeting Tuesday, the money was contributed to the homeless collaborative, which includes organizations such as the cities, the county, Reliable Enterprises, United Way of Lewis County and several other groups who are focused on addressing the growing homeless population in the region.
The funds contributed by the city will be paid to a vendor in relation to the project, Hill said.
“This will send a clear message that we are truly dedicated and vested in the efforts to reduce homelessness in our community,” Abbarno said in the email that requested the donation be placed on Tuesday night’s agenda.
{{tncms-inline content="<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Those interested in donating to the project can mail checks to 132 Kirkland Road, Chehalis, or go online to bethel-church.com/give. If donating online, the person needs to specify the funds are for the shelter. Volunteers are also currently being sought to staff the shelter on nights it is open. To volunteer, check out the Facebook page &ldquo;Hub City Mission&rdquo; or email hubcitymission@bethel-church.com.</span></p>" id="0ae1d661-ea95-4491-846a-43f1ba412f9d" style-type="info" title="How to Help " type="relcontent"}}
