In response to temperatures predicted to fall below freezing beginning this weekend, Lane County is opening emergency shelter beds at Lane Events Center. The shelter will operate under strict COVID-19 protocols.

“Egan Warming Center provides an incredible service to our unhoused community, but they are not scheduled to open until next month,” said County Administrator Steve Mokrohisky. “Lane County felt it was imperative to step into the breach and provide a temporary solution during this early cold weather.”

The emergency shelter beds will be available Sunday and Monday between the hours of 6:00 PM and 8:00 AM. Unhoused community members who wish to stay at Lane Events Center should check in with site volunteers at the Expo Hall building. Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, there will be limited capacity and spaces will be assigned on a first come, first served basis. Guests with symptoms will be offered space offsite to protect all guests.

St. Vincent de Paul, under contract with Lane County, will staff the emergency shelter.

Emergency shelter beds are more challenging to set up this year due to COVID-19. Providing adequate space reduces the capacity of each location and many Egan volunteers are in higher-risk categories and cannot serve this year.

“We remain committed to helping find and support solutions to homelessness,” said Mokrohisky. “It will take our whole community to be successful in this effort. This winter as COVID-19 restricts our already strained systems – we need churches, schools and other property owners to step forward and offer spaces to the Egan Warming Center.”

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