Network offers shelter from the cold

The Salvation Army offers a soup kitchen to the homeless and others who need a hot meal.

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Story Published: Dec 9, 2009 at 12:31 AM PDT

Story Updated: Dec 9, 2009 at 12:31 AM PDT

By Anne Harding

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LEWISTON - With temperatures in the single digits, it's a good time to stay indoors. But for some, it's not an option.

Last winter a warming shelter was open in the Salvation Army parking lot on G Street, to help the homeless escape the frigid temperatures. But low turnout and limitations on staying open all night made it impractical to reopen this year.

The YWCA of Lewiston-Clarkston is one of the many resources the homeless can turn to, to help get out of these cold temperatures.

"If somebody's homeless and doesn't have a place, there are several agencies in town that will try and work with them," said YWCA Executive Director Slyvia Evers. "The YWCA, Community Action Agency, St. Vincent De Paul, Salvation Army and also after hours – the police stations. You can check with them and see what options might be available."

Evers said another great resource in the Valley is the soup kitchen at the Salvation Army, where most weekdays, people can get a hot meal. She said while the YWCA and other organizations will do the best they can to help people through the winter, they can only do so much.

"Funds are very limited for housing," said Evers. "For lodging we'll do the best we can at least try and get them into a shelter overnight, but we do have limitations. Not only funding limitations, but sometimes people have issues and they aren't comfortable staying in a place so we can't lodge them, or if the hotel has a history with the client and won't lodge them then we will not pay for lodging under those circumstances."

Evers said if they can't get someone in a hotel for the night, they come up with other solutions. She said they always see more people needing assistance in the winter and said all the organizations are grateful for donations and volunteers.

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