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City of Seattle Extends Severe Weather Shelters for People Experiencing Homelessness in Response to Ongoing Cold Temperatures and Snow

by on December 30, 2021

**Updated January 3, 2022

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Severe Weather Shelter locations are closing January 3.

Together, with contracted severe weather shelter providers and the King County Regional Homelessness Authority, the City was able to make sure that on approximately 2,100 (duplicated) occasions between December 25th and January 3rd, people in our community didn’t have to sleep outside in severe cold, snow, and freezing temperatures.

After the first nights of cold and snow, the Seattle Human Services Department announced (on 12/29) the extension of operations for its temporary severe weather shelters that opened starting December 25 in response to record breaking low temperatures and significant snowfall. Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center and Compass Housing Alliance shelters will remain open through Monday, January 3 at 7 a.m. and City Hall shelter (now closed) was extended through January 2 at 7 p.m. Across the six shelters currently open, there is capacity to serve up to 372 people per night. Last night (12/29), 276 people utilized these spaces. Forecasts continue to be monitored to assess emergency shelter needs for people experiencing homelessness.

Severe Weather Shelter Locations

All shelters below serve all genders and are for adults (18+)

  • This severe winter weather shelter location is now closed: Exhibition Hall at Seattle Center (Operated by Salvation Army)
    • Capacity: 150 guests
    • Hours: Open nightly at 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (*Extended through January 3 at 7 a.m.)
    • Non-aggressive leashed dogs and cats under owner control allowed. The Seattle Center campus hygiene station will be accessible. The Armory opens daily at 10am for day warming.
    • Served directly by Metro Bus routes 3, 4, 5, 8, 16, 28, RapidRide E Line, and nearby routes include: 1, 13, and RapidRide D Line.
  • This severe winter weather shelter location is now closed: Compass Housing Alliance Shelter in Pioneer Square
    • Capacity: 80 guests
    • Hours: Open nightly at 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. (*Extended through January 3 at 7 a.m.)
    • Service animals only at this location. Day Center also available at this location.
    • Served by nearby public transit services (1-3 blocks away): Seattle Streetcar, Link Light Rail, routes 21, 29, 55, 56, 57, 101, 102, 111, 113, 114, 120, 121, 115, 150, 162, 177, 190, 212, 214, 216, 217, 218, 550, 554, RapidRide C, ST 590, ST 592, ST 594, ST 595, ST 577, ST 578, PT 410, PT, 415, PT 417, PT 422, PT 424, and Washington State Ferries.
  • This severe winter weather shelter location is now closed: Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes (Operated by Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle)
    • Capacity: 70 guests
    • Hours: No longer accepting new guests
    • Meals provided by OSL
  • West Seattle (Operated by American Legion Post 160 and faith-based network volunteers)
    • Capacity: 16 guests
    • Hours: Open 24 Hours
    • Adults 18+
  • God’s Lil Acre (Operated by Lake City Partners).
    • Capacity: 15-20 guests
    • Hours: Night Shelter open 9 p.m. to 9 a.m., Day Center open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Seattle Mennonite Church (Operated by Lake City Partners).
    • Capacity: 25-35 guests
    • Hours: Open nightly at 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.

Emergency shelter spaces are following COVID-19 safety and screening protocols for guests, including added air filtration, physical distancing, and increased sanitation and hygiene. Providers will also follow public health isolation protocols for any symptomatic guests.

Daytime Warming Locations

Note: As of January, 2, 2022, many severe weather day warming locations closed. The following locations no longer offer daytime warming center functions and have closed or returned to normal operations.

  • Day warming has ended at Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes (Operated by Seattle Urban League)
    • Address: 600 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104.
    • Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (overnight shelter 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
  • Day warming has ended at International District/Chinatown Community Center
    • Address: 719 8th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98104.
    • Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday (Jan. 1): 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (5 p.m. is normal closing); Sunday (Jan. 2): 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (normally closed).
  • Day warming has ended at Magnuson Park Building #406
    • Hours: Monday and Tuesday 12 noon to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday (Jan. 1) and Sunday (Jan. 2): 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (normally closed).
  • Day warming has ended at Northgate Community Center
    • Address: 10510 5th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125. Phone: 206-386-4823
    • Hours: M-F: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday (Jan. 1) 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (normally closed), Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (normally closed).
  • Day warming has ended at Rainier Beach Community Center
    • Address: 8825 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118. Phone: 206-386-1925
    • Hours: Monday-Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday (Dec. 31) 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (normally 6:30 p.m.), Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 pm, Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 pm. 206-386-1925 NOTE: Rainer Beach Community Center will be CLOSED Saturday and Sunday 1/1 – 1/2/2022
  • Day warming has ended at Lake City Community Center (added on 12/30)
    • Address: 12531 28th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125.
    • Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Community members seeking places to come inside during the day are encouraged to utilize public spaces available for all, such as Seattle Public Libraries and the Seattle Center Armory. Existing day center programs (including the one operated by Compass Housing in Pioneer Square), are open and offering support year-round for people experiencing homelessness. Click HERE for a full list of sites.

If you need shelter or connections to services, call 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-9274. The King County Regional Homelessness Authority Cold Weather Shelter notice provides additional resources and guidance. Parents or guardians caring for one or more children 18 years or younger can get help identifying emergency shelter by calling the Coordinated Family Intake Line at 206-245-1026 between 8 a.m. and 11:30 p.m., 365-days a year. In addition, the YWCA’s women and family shelter intake line can be reached at 206-461-4882. For an emergency, call 9-1-1.

The Homelessness Outreach and Provider Ecosystem (HOPE) Team is coordinating outreach and shelter referrals into the City’s temporary severe weather shelters, and other City-funded shelters, in partnership with our contracted outreach providers. The HOPE Team, in coordination with Seattle Parks and Recreation, Seattle Fire Department’s Health One and Seattle Police Department’s Community Service Officers, are conducting welfare visits, sharing shelter location information, helping people connect to transportation options to shelter locations, and supporting efforts to distribute weather supplies including handwarmers, emergency blankets, hats, and gloves.

Severe weather operation and response updates from other HSD Divisions include:

  • Home Delivered Meal programs are tracking the weather and coordinating any delivery changes with drivers and clients to ensure all clients have sufficient meals during the weather event.
  • Medicaid case management program staff have been alerted to weather issues that could impact clients through the holiday weekend and into next week. Updated case lists will be distributed to assist teams with identifying and contacting clients most in need of planning and resources.
  • Other aging network programs, including Senior Centers and Congregate Meals programs, have been operating hybrid models (in-person, virtual, delivery) due to the pandemic. Severe weather and holiday schedules may impact operations.

Emergency Severe Weather Shelter Guests:

Shelter Census 12/25 12/26 12/27 12/28 12/29 12/30 12/31 1/1 1/2 Total 
Compass Housing 28 81 54 51 55 53 41  *21  32 416
Exhibition Hall 59 107 132 142 142 134 118  157 130 1,121
City Hall X X 30 52 55 70 62  68 *60 397
West Seattle X X 12 11 11 16 15  18 15 98
Seattle Mennonite Church X 10 14 15 13 10 6  7 9 84
God’s Lil Acre X 0 0 0 0 0 0  0 0 0
Totals 87 198 242 271 276 283 242  271 246 2,116
(duplicated)
Capacity 180 265 351 371 371 371 371  379 379 
* Indicates a preliminary count that may be updated later as it was taken prior to midnight instead of the morning of closure

Additional Resources

As conditions evolve through the week, here are additional resources for the latest City winter response and weather information:

Filed Under: Homelessness