Oregon Trail Chapter Latest News

PORTLAND, Ore. – (January 22, 2008) As frosty temperatures linger, the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross is prepared to open emergency warming centers for the homeless tonight (1/22) and tomorrow night (1/23). These safe havens will protect this vulnerable population from hypothermia, frostbite and, in some cases, even death.

Three centers are expected to open tonight from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.:

* Estate Hotel, 225 NW Couch
* Cavalry Christian Ministries, 126 NE Alberta
* Foursquare Church, 1303 SE Ankeny

NEW CHANGES

While the goal of the emergency warming centers is to lower barriers and make it as easy as possible for guests to spend the night indoors, the Red Cross understands the impact that these centers can have on the surrounding neighborhoods. For this reason, the following changes are effective starting tonight:

* At Cavalry Christian Ministries only, doors will be closed at 11 p.m. and will not re-open until 6 a.m. Additionally, the number of guests at this location will be capped at 50.

* A reminder about being respectful of surrounding neighborhoods will be provided to guests at all locations.

* Representatives from the Portland Police and Portland Business Alliance have been asked to increase the frequency of their visits to the emergency warming centers.

WAYS OREGONIANS CAN HELP

Volunteer: While the City of Portland has only asked the Red Cross to open warming centers tonight and tomorrow night, with the current weather outlook, it is likely that the centers may be open into the future. For this reason, volunteer assistance is vital. Those interested in staffing the Red Cross emergency warming centers should contact Mike Fish at 503-528-5699 or fishm@redcross-pdx.org.

Donate: The Red Cross emergency warming centers have exceeded all expectations in terms of the number of guests served. While the contract with the City of Portland covers up to $40,000 of expenses, the Red Cross believes that it will surpass these costs in terms of both time and supplies. If community members are interested in helping cover the cost of operating these centers, they can make a donation to the Oregon Trail Chapter by calling 503-284-1234 or visiting www.redcross-pdx.org.

WHAT MAKES A WARMING CENTER DIFFERENT

Red Cross emergency warming centers differ from other homeless shelters in several ways:

* Guests do not have to register to enter
* Singles, couples and families are all welcome
* Guests can come and go as they please throughout the night (with the exception of Cavalry Christian, where doors will be closed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.)
* Pets are welcome and kennels and dog food are provided

As a center fills, the Red Cross offers transportation to one of the other two locations. Guests will be provided with a bus ticket to be able to return in the morning.

While the emergency warming centers will provide respite from the cold, a place to sleep, hot coffee and soup, they differ from traditional Red Cross shelters in that clothing and financial support are not be available. Warming centers also differ in that they allow pets, which is typically not the practice in Red Cross shelters.

The Red Cross anticipates opening warming centers anywhere from ten to 20 times each winter and serving anywhere from 150 to 200 people each night that the centers are open. When the centers last opened on Monday, January 21, the three sites were able to accommodate 209 total guests.

WARMING CENTER ACTIVATION REQUIREMENTS

The City of Portland makes the decision to activate the Oregon Trail Chapter when they believe conditions require warming center openings. These circumstances include:

Under DRY conditions
* 25 degrees Fahrenheit or below, including consideration of the wind chill factor

Under WET conditions
* 35 degrees Fahrenheit or below, including consideration of the wind chill factor AND
* Any snow/freezing rain/sleet OR
* 1" or more of rain within 12 hours

* Other combinations of weather conditions that place homeless persons at risk of loss of life or serious negative health consequences.

The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disaster and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Local Oregon Trail Chapter volunteers respond to residential fires and other disasters an average of every 40 hours. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from Oregonians. Financial gifts help provide shelter, food, clothing, counseling and other immediate assistance to those in need. Call (503) 284-1234 or visit www.redcross-pdx.org.

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American Red Cross, Oregon Trail volunteers respond to house fires every 32 hours on average.
To assist the Red Cross in providing disaster relief, please call (503) 528-5634.
To prepare yourself and your family for fire or other disasters, go to www.redcross-pdx.org