December 21, 2021
Cold Weather Shelter to open December 22; Skagit County invests $300,000 in ARPA funding for emergency winter shelter services
Beginning Wednesday, December 22, the Friendship House will be opening its day center at the First Steps Center in Burlington for an emergency cold weather shelter. Skagit County Public Health will provide the funding for this critical service. The shelter will have capacity for approximately 20 individuals per night.
Individuals are asked to check in at the Friendship House Café at 108 Snoqualmie Street in Mount Vernon; transportation to the First Steps Center will be provided. Law enforcement may also drop people off directly to First Steps Center in Burlington.
The Skagit County Board of Commissioners have invested $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, bringing the total local, state, and federal funds provided through Skagit County to $2,548,741.23 throughout the next year for shelter and motel voucher programs. These programs will help ensure that those in Skagit who need a warm place to stay during the winter have access. In addition to the First Steps winter shelter, funding will provide approximately 70 motel rooms through the voucher program, available until June 2023.
“For people experiencing homelessness, winter can be deadly,” said Commissioner Lisa Janicki. “This funding will literally help save lives over the next few cold months.”
Funding is allocated to a variety of community partners including Friendship House, Catholic Community Services, Anacortes Family Center, and Northwest Youth Services. This year, a portion of the funding is also reserved for law enforcement drop-offs, to ensure that law enforcement officers have a resource when they come across people who are on the street in the cold.
“Last week we broke ground on Martha’s Place, which will provide 70 units of permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness in Skagit County,” said Commissioner Peter Browning. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to get some folks into temporary winter shelter, then transitioned directly into Martha’s Place when it’s completed.”
Commissioner Ron Wesen added, “Obviously, permanent housing is preferred for all. In the short-term, we’re happy to provide this funding to keep people off the streets and alive through the winter.”
Skagit County Public Health continues to operate an isolation and quarantine facility for those who need a place to stay while isolating due to a COVID-19 diagnosis, or quarantine due to a close contact. The funding for this program is separate from other motel voucher programs mentioned above.
Those who are interested in learning more about the motel voucher programs can contact Skagit County Public Health at (360) 416-1500.
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