As temperatures begin to drop, St. Vincent de Paul is continuing preparations for their Egan Warming Center program. This season they’re opening two new shelter sites, including one in Springfield.
A couple of months ago, St. Vinny’s was scrambling to find a new location, now they’ll have a site at the Springfield Memorial Center. Winter Strategies Coordinator Tim Black said they’re ready this season, but the future is still a concern.
“It’s a hard thing, it’s a big ask. But our partners at the City of Springfield helped and we’re excited that we’re able to secure this site, " said Black. "But, this gonna be another 1 year solution for winter, so we’re going to be back again looking for another permanent home after this winter.”
In the meantime, Black said, they’re going to take it night by night and rely on volunteer support. It takes around 300 volunteers to open when tempertures fall under 30 degrees.
The centers will also add a women-only site at Eugene’s Episcopal Church of the Resurrection on Hilyard Street, bringing the total number of emergency shelters to nine.
Egan Warming Center Sites 2019-2020:
- First United Methodist Church, Youth Site (376 Olive St., Eugene)
- Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, All-Women Site (3925 Hilyard St., Eugene)
- Centeral Lutheran Church (1857 Potter St., Eugene)
- Lane Community College (4000 E 30th Ave, Building 4, Room 104)
- Springfield Memorial Building (765 A St., Springfield)
- St. Mary's Episcopal Church (1300 Pearl St., Eugene)
- Temple Beth Israel (1175 E 29th Ave., Eugene)
- Trinity United Methodist Church (440 Maxwell Rd., Eugene)
- Valley Convenant Church (3636 W 18th Ave., Eugene)
