Shelter providers: Capacity was full most nights this winter
This year's volunteer-powered winter shelter program delivered one of the smoothest seasons yet, shelter providers said.
From November to March, several Clark County churches and organizations open their doors to offer people refuge from the cold. Shelter providers said that this winter, they were at full capacity most nights.
"The number of people who are impacted demonstrates the significance of the winter shelter program," St. Andrew Lutheran Church Rev. Cindy Bauldree said. "It's about the Vancouver community coming together and supporting, loving one another."
Overcoming challenges
The overnight winter shelter network has three branches. The housing nonprofit Outsiders Inn and Immanuel Lutheran Church operate the satellite overflow shelters. St. Andrew Lutheran Church operates the women's Winter Hospitality Overflow shelter, while St. Paul Lutheran Church operates the men's shelter. Live Love Outreach along with other organizations and churches operate severe weather shelters, which open when temperatures drop below 36 degrees.
Challenges plagued a couple of the shelter providers ahead of the winter season.
In September, Outsiders Inn and Immanuel Lutheran Church said they were looking for a "miracle partner" to help them provide a warm place for residents.
Recovery Cafe, a Vancouver organization, stepped up and opened its administrative office to people Sunday through Tuesday, Outsiders Inn Deputy Director Ren Autrey said. Immanuel sheltered people from Wednesday through Saturday. Combined, they provided 151 consecutive nights of service.
In October, St. Andrew Lutheran Church called on the community to help raise $175,000 for its winter homeless shelter for women and families. It had historically relied on help from Vancouver housing nonprofit Share for case management. But due to funding uncertainty, the shelter needed support.
Bauldree said the community answered the call in droves. About 400 volunteers donated about 5,300 hours at St. Andrew Lutheran Church's shelter, Bauldree said.
Other shelter providers said behind every open bed was a network of volunteers. Volunteers logged about 1,150 hours at satellite shelters, Autrey said.
Brian Norris - executive director of Live Love Outreach, which operates a severe-weather shelter at Living Hope Church - said it opened 23 days for residents, averaging 35 people a night. About 50 volunteers donated their time to the shelter, Norris said.
This also was Live Love Outreach's first year offering its Streetlight overnight outreach team. The outreach team and winter shelter staff coordinated to help more people seek refuge from the cold, Norris said.
Who sought shelter?
Shelter providers said they were at full capacity most nights, which underscores the continued need in the community.
Those using the shelter beds mirror Council for the Homeless data on the largest groups experiencing unsheltered homelessness: older adults, veterans and those fleeing domestic violence.
Nearly 1 in 3 guests at St. Andrew's shelter system were children. The shelter also saw 71 people with disabilities, 49 domestic violence survivors and three veterans. Norris said Live Love Outreach's winter shelter also had several people who had physical disabilities and saw people across the board from families to veterans.
At the shelters offered by Outsiders Inn and Immanuel Lutheran Church, almost half were people of color. More than half had some type of mental health condition, and 37 had a physical disability.
Forty-four people had a history of domestic violence, Autrey said.
"It continues to remind us that our shelter is not only providing safety from the elements but also sometimes from our situations of unsafety," Autrey said.
Community support
The winter system also serves as a way to connect people with resources and services. For example, nearly 3,000 bus passes were provided.
The satellite shelters saw two people land permanent housing, three enter treatment and 42 find spots in year-round shelter programs. St. Andrew's winter shelter had 25 guests move into rental housing, 25 into long-term shelter and 49 transitioned to other emergency shelter programs.
"The shelters are embedded in our community space, so it gives them an opportunity to be supported by volunteers in a space that doesn't feel so institutional," Autrey said.
Shelter providers said volunteers tried to create a family-like environment. Volunteers and shelter guests spent the holidays together and built relationships they might not otherwise have had the opportunity to build.
"It's really heartwarming to see ... breaking bread together and just getting to know each other," Autrey said. "The shelters are creating relationships within our community."
This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism, a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation. Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj.
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This story was originally published April 18, 2026 at 5:53 PM.