Cots and chairs sit fill the Hub City Mission Severe Weather Shelter earlier this year.
A sign at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds marks the site of the Hub City Mission Severe Weather Shelter.
After a frigid winter that saw a record number of stays at the Hub City Mission Severe Weather Shelter, Twin City leaders say the institution has shown positive results in its second year at the Southwest Washington Fairgrounds.
“From our perspective, things went well,” said Josh Gering, director of Bethel Church’s Hub City Mission. “We were very happy with the increase in capacity we were able to have, with having a solid building rather than the portable units.”
Gering joined a gathering of local officials Monday to debrief after the shelter’s winter season and trade feedback for the future. The particularly cold winter meant the shelter was open 101 nights last season, an uptick over most previous years. It recorded 2,376 bed-nights in total, an increase of 450 over last winter. During one chilly stretch, the shelter was open 41 nights with only one evening off.
Last winter marked the first year the shelter was hosted at the fairgrounds, following a move from downtown Centralia. The transition allowed the shelter to offer more capacity, as well addressing concerns raised by some about its presence in the downtown business corridor.
After spending last winter in portable structures on the fairgrounds, the shelter moved into an existing building across from the south stage this season. The solid building was a big addition “for a lot of reasons,” Gering said, adding a sense of security that has helped bring in more female guests and given volunteers peace of mind. The shelter saw 147 volunteers help out this winter.
“I thought it went great,” said Fair Manager Tamara Hayes. “(The new building) worked really well, because it centralized it in the center of the fairgrounds and allowed us to use the main gate. … Their volunteers are incredible, and to step up and help the community like that is pretty awesome.”
County commissioner Edna Fund noted that the shelter building has a water connection, which was an important upgrade. She also said that more guests had been connected to the Housing Resource Center this season.
“Every year we can make more progress,” she said.
Law enforcement also attended the shelter debrief, offering their own feedback. Centralia Police Chief Carl Nielsen said the move has been a success from the city’s perspective, with complaints about homeless issues down in Centralia over the last two years.
“We’re supportive,” he said. “We’ve had a lot less complaints from downtown. ... Obviously, that provides our officers another resource that if we get people that are in need, they have someplace warm to stay.”
Meanwhile, Lewis County Sheriff Rob Snaza suggested that the shelter work in the future to bring more resources on-site, both for treatment and to connect people with possible avenues back into society.
“We talked about next year getting with Cascade Mental Health and having people over there providing the services,” said LCSO Chief Deputy Bruce Kimsey, who also attended the meeting.
For the ones who want to change and seek a better life, it’s providing the resources they need. … Let’s get the information there. We’ve got a collective audience. While they’re there, let’s get them the assistance they need.”
Fund said she agreed with that suggestion, noting that shelter leaders had said many guests suffer from mental health or substance use challenges.
“If we can help them conquer those obstacles they have and get them into a stable living situation with a job, staying on their medication or staying off of alcohol, drugs, etc., that would help our society out a great deal,” she said.
