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MultCo opens severe weather shelters ahead of potential snowfall

With overnight temperatures expected to drop, the county chair will declare a state of emergency to open more shelter beds
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Tents line a street in inner Southeast Portland on Feb.14, 2021. | SHUTTERSTOCK
February 4, 2025

Multnomah County employees and service provider partners are opening three severe weather shelters in the Portland area ahead of potential snowfall this week. 

Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson will declare a state of emergency effective at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 4. The additional 242 severe weather beds will open at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, and will remain open at least through noon on Wednesday, Feb. 5. 

“Severe weather shelters save lives during the very coldest and harshest nights of the year,’’ Vega Pederson said in a release. “Our goal with the additional shelter we open today is making sure that there’s a bed, comfort and support for everyone who lacks a safe, warm, dry place.”

The three locations are: 

The county and its partners are prepared to keep shelters open longer as conditions warrant reflecting the relative uncertainty in the National Weather Service’s official forecasting models, which have ranged from a rain-only event to snow.

Nobody seeking shelter will be turned away. All sites will welcome pets and be accessible to those with disabling conditions. 

Free transportation to warming shelters is available by calling 211 or through TriMet. Nobody will be turned away by TriMet that is traveling to or from a warm place and is unable to pay for fare. 

Those seeking shelter should inform their bus operator they are heading to or from a warming shelter or space. People planning to use TriMet to get to a warming shelter should check for routes at trimet.org and let the driver they are headed to a warm place.

This interactive map shows places to to get warm during the day, including Multnomah County Library branches, which are planned to be open normal hours today.

These shelters join the county and the city of Portland's nearly 3,000 year-round shelter beds plus 200 winter-only beds at two Salvation Army shelters. As of Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Salvation's Army winter beds still had room for people seeking shelter, according to the county. 

For the latest information as conditions change, bookmark and visit multco.us/cold.

The Joint Office of Homeless Services has also activate its enhanced outreach program. 

If you are concerned about someone you see during colder conditions, such as an individual who is not dressed for the weather conditions, call the non-emergency response line at 503-823-3333 and request a welfare check.

If someone is unsheltered and their life appears to be in danger, call 911 for medical attention.

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