Update on Monday, Oct. 26 at 5 p.m.: The emergency shelter beds at Lane Events Center will not be open on Monday night because temperatures will be above freezing.
In response to temperatures predicted to fall below freezing, Lane County opened emergency shelter beds at Lane Events Center on Sunday night. The shelter operated 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.”
St. Vincent de Paul, under contract with Lane County, staffed 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.”