Salvation Army offers a place to escape cold

The Salvation Army in Everett announced Monday that it is opening its emergency weather shelter, the second straight week the nonprofit has opened its doors to the homeless.

Last week, the organization operated an emergency shelter in its buildings at 2525 Rucker Ave. Sunday through Thursday, said Dana Libby, who helps manage the organization's Snohomish County chapter.

Since the Salvation Army has no formal shelter space, the organization allows the homeless to spread mats and blankets in a classroom and in its community room. It typically serves 20 to 25 people, but had a maximum of 31 people one night last week.

In late November, the Salvation Army and the Everett Gospel Mission both announced that they would provide temporary space to the homeless when temperatures dropped below freezing.

The Everett Gospel Mission's men's shelter has been filled to overflowing during the past week, said Dale Gunderson, director.

For example, the men's shelter has bunk space for about 135 men. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, more than 160 men spent the night at the mission, he said.

The homeless can find out if the emergency weather shelters are operating by calling 211, the regional social service hotline. Word is also spread at various evening meal programs sponsored by area churches.

The 211 hotline has seen the number of callers from Snohomish County asking about emergency shelter spike this month, said Bill Brackin, program director.

As of Monday, 420 people, or 12.3 percent of all the calls to hotline asked about emergency shelter, he said. That's up from 9.8 percent of all calls in January 2007.

Not all area shelters reported being at capacity or using overflow space to provide the homeless a place to sleep.

At the Everett Gospel Mission's shelter for women and children "we've had a couple couch days," said Sylvia Anderson, director. But as of Monday, the shelter still had space to serve more people, she said.

That may because other shelters have opened in the last several years to assist women, she said. These include the Monroe Gospel Women's Mission and Everett's Life Changes Ministry.

"It helps explain why we don't have the numbers of a couple years ago," Anderson said.

The Interfaith Association of Northwest Washington operates the only shelter for families in Snohomish County. Located in north Everett, it has room for 40 people. On Monday, it was serving 37 people, said Mary Ellen Wood, interim executive director.

"We're always close to capacity," she said. "The weather hasn't really impacted us."

The Monroe Gospel Women's Mission, which can serve 16 women, reported it is at capacity, but had not seen a recent increase in demand for shelter from the homeless due to the weather.

Herald reporter Sharon Salyer at 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.