Cold Shelters open tonight

Bremerton Food Line, located across from Bremerton High School, will provide homeless citizens throughout Kitsap County a sheltered place to sleep when temperatures drop below zero.

Doors open on Friday, tonight at 6 pm and close at 7 am. Saturday and Sunday will have the same hours of operation.

Guests will not be able to check in after 9pm.

According to Jason McMillan, severe weather shelter coordinator, the Food Line will provide camping mats and blankets rather than bed.

The maximum capacity is 25 guests.

“We have an over full plan which involves opening another building on the fairgrounds or President’s Hall, depending on what’s available. But we’re lucky to get 8 people a night,” said McMillan.

The low numbers have the emergency folks concerned, especially when temperatures go to below freezing.

“We know they’re out there, the folks we’re targeting, but they say that they’re afraid to leave where they are because they might lose their stuff in the camp,” said McMillan.

McMillan gets his information from the Bremerton Rescue Mission and Salvation Army who are partnered with the department in outreach. He said that daily notices are sent out to the media, food banks, libraries, the Salvation Army, and 211. But many of the homeless are either unaware or unable to take advantage.

The shelters will continue to operate with the help of volunteers on any evening that temperatures are forecasted below zero for more than four hours.

Kitsap County Resources will provide snacks, coffee, and mats for guests.

 

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