Oregon Trail Chapter Latest News

PORTLAND, Ore. – (January 7, 2008) For many of us, tonight's frigid temperatures mean curling up at home with a cozy fire and cup of hot cocoa. But for Portland's homeless community, extreme winter weather can mean hypothermia or even death.

For the fifth time this season, the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross will open emergency warming centers for this vulnerable population as the thermometer drops. Two Red Cross centers are expected to open tonight:

* Estate Hotel, 225 NW Couch – 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.
* Calvary Christian Ministries, 126 NE Alberta – 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Both locations will maintain an open door policy, so guests may come and go freely. Pets are welcome.

While the emergency warming centers will provide safe 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 as many as 150 people each night that the centers are open. The Estate Hotel, which has opened on four previous occasions, averages close to 60 guests each time it opens. The other sites have opened just once with only a handful of guests, but volumes are expected to increase as they become more established in the community.

Warming Center Activation Requirements

The City of Portland alerts the Oregon Trail Chapter when they believe conditions require the center activation. 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.

Volunteers interested in staffing the Red Cross emergency warming centers should contact Mike Fish at 503-528-5699 or fishm@redcross-pdx.org.

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