Since 2007, the Homeless Network of Yakima County has coordinated the Extreme Winter Weather Housing Project, which has provided a safe haven from the bitter cold for hundreds of people throughout the Valley without homes.  The program has mostly utilized churches as shelters during what can be brutal winter months in the region.

The Homeless Network, in collaboration with Sunrise Outreach Ministries, will open three overnight shelters in Yakima on November 15th.  The local shelters will be at First Baptist Church of Yakima (6th Street and Yakima Avenue), Englewood Christian Church (44th Avenue and Englewood Avenue), and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Yakima (2nd Street and Lincoln Avenue).  The Station, which is located in the Sunrise Outreach Ministries facility at 3rd Street and MLK, Jr. Boulevard, will also provide care for the homeless this winter during daytime hours. 

Sunrise Outreach Ministries Pastor Dave Hanson says that volunteers are relied on  heavily to run the shelters.  

“It takes about 500 volunteers alone just to keep the shelters going during the winter,” said Pastor Hanson.  “In order to be a shelter volunteer, people do have to go through a short training class.  But no special skills are needed to work at a shelter,” said Pastor Hanson.  “The most important qualification is wanting to help”.

Sunrise Outreach Ministries also relies heavily on donations in order to operate the shelters and provide care for people who are cold and hungry.  Pastor Hanson says donations of men’s and women’s winter clothing, blankets, coffee, sugar, creamer, cocoa, and other non-perishable food are always needed.

Forecasts call for potentially severe weather to hit the Yakima Valley throughout this winter.  Pastor Hanson says that means that the shelters will be more critical than ever this year. 

Anyone willing to become a shelter volunteer or make a donation to support the shelters is encouraged to contact Sunrise Outreach Ministries by phone at 225-9310 or by e-mail at afish4christ@aol.com.

For more information about this article, contact Community Relations Manager Randy Beehler by phone 901-1142 or by e-mail rbeehler@ci.yakima.wa.us.