Local groups help homeless weather winter

The city of Washougal is considering opening a severe weather shelter for the homeless, but there are several organizations and churches in the area already offering resources such as food and clothing for people struggling to find housing and afford basic necessities.

Currently, there are no emergency cold weather shelters in Washougal or Camas. But that doesn’t mean the need is not there. At St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Washougal, a car-camping program offers safe parking for five to six families, and their vehicles, in the church’s parking lot nightly from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. That program is already full, says Rev. Kathleen Patton, St. Anne’s vicar.