This year’s response emphasized consistent, seven-day-a-week access to shelters across winter hospitality overflow (WHO) and satellite overflow (SOS) sites from November through March

VANCOUVER — A coordinated, community-wide effort ensured hundreds of Clark County residents had a safe place to stay during the coldest months of the year. During the 2025-2026 winter season, the Severe Weather Taskforce connected 475 unduplicated people experiencing homelessness to winter and severe weather shelters that provided a total of 13,748 safe sleeps.

This year’s response emphasized consistent, seven-day-a-week access to shelters across winter hospitality overflow (WHO) and satellite overflow (SOS) sites from November through March. These sites included:

• St. Andrew Lutheran’s WHO site, operated by Share, provided 6,094 safe sleeps to 152 people.
• St. Paul Lutheran’s WHO, operated by Outsider’s Inn, provided 3,993 safe sleeps to 54 people.
• Immanuel Lutheran’s SOS site provided 2,846 safe sleeps to 108 people.

In addition, Living Hope Church operated as a severe weather shelter, providing 815 safe sleeps to 211 individuals during extreme weather events.

Throughout the season, the Severe Weather Taskforce and Council for the Homeless, which leads the coordinated efforts behind the scenes, issued 36 Severe Weather Alerts. Alerts are signaled when temperatures in Clark County are forecasted to drop below 36 degrees or when hazardous conditions such as snow, ice, or flooding threaten those living unsheltered. These alerts, as issued over the 2025-2026 winter season, mobilized additional shelter capacity and coordinated community response when it was needed most.

Beyond shelter beds, outreach teams played a crucial role in connecting people to safety. Expanded efforts during evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays helped ensure individuals could access shelter and essential supplies outside traditional service hours.

“Winter response is about more than opening doors during extreme cold; it’s about building a system people can rely on every night,” said Sesany Fennie-Jones, chief executive officer of Council for the Homeless. “This season reflects what’s possible when partners align with urgency and consistency.”

Together, these efforts added flexible capacity, increasing available beds by an estimated 55 – 100 spaces each night, while strengthening coordination across providers.

While winter has ended, the need for shelter and support continues year-round. The Severe Weather Taskforce and Council for the Homeless seek community support through donations of hygiene supplies, rain gear, tents, and blankets. Planning is also underway for summer response, including volunteer support during extreme heat events.

Ongoing partnerships and community investment remain essential to preventing and ending homelessness in Clark County.

More information, including how to donate essential supplies, is available at councilforthehomeless.org.

About Council for the Homeless: Council for the Homeless (CFTH) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in Clark County, WA, by providing community leadership, compelling advocacy, and practical solutions to solve homelessness on an individual and community level. Founded in 1989, CFTH serves as the lead agency and coordinated entry for delivery of homeless services through the Continuum of Care for Homeless Services in Clark County, WA.