Severe weather shelters to merge in Washougal

Washougal’s two severe-weather shelters are merging in an effort to provide enhanced life-saving services during freezing temperatures and inclement weather.

ReFuel Washougal’s overnight severe weather shelter has combined with the Camas-Washougal Salvation Army’s day shelter to create the Washougal Community Severe Weather Shelter, which will operate out of the Salvation Army, 1612 “I” St., Washougal.

“It makes sense,” said Salvation Army director Samantha Wheeler. “It seems like a perfect fit, and it’s natural that it would kind of happen this way. I think it’s going to be a good thing for everybody involved — a natural progression.”

The collaboration “creates efficiencies in both organizations and allows alignment in meeting the needs of those individuals,” according to a news release.

“There are so many pluses to this,” said Tia Billings, ReFuel’s severe weather shelter coordinator. “If we have severe weather, (guests) won’t have to go anywhere else or figure out (how to get there).”

Guests will have access to a warm, comfortable environment with several amenities, including a bed (22 in total), a hygiene center, and food, according to Wheeler.

“And something that will be different here is we will allow those experiencing homelessness to bring their pets,” she added. “There will be some guidelines that (pet owners will) need to follow — the pets can’t create a disturbance — but we certainly will try to accommodate people with their pets, because I know that there are some people who wouldn’t come into a shelter situation (in the past) because they couldn’t bring their pets.”

The ReFuel shelter has operated in Washougal since the winter of 2017-18. It was located at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in its first year, then moved to the Washougal Community Center for the 2018-19 winter season.

“I was really proud to have taken the reins from (Robert Barber, the shelter’s first coordinator and the pastor of St. Matthew’s),” Billings said. “My son and I used to stay at the shelter, and so I felt that I really knew what the people needed because of our experiences (there). I had made some changes to get the people that stayed there more involved so they felt like they were earning their keep for the night, because it makes them feel better about themselves, it improves their self-confidence when they feel like they’re contributing instead of always taking. Now, that is not going to happen.”

ReFuel leaders began searching for a new home for their shelter in early 2024 after learning about the city of Washougal’s plans to close the community center in the fall of 2024 for renovation work.

“I was definitely stressed because we don’t have very many options out here, and Camas does not want it to do anything to do with our homeless,” Billings said. “It kind of has been on our shoulders.”

Wheeler said the Salvation Army stepped in when the community asked.

“We love partnering with others to make our community a better place,” Wheeler said. “We’ve worked closely (in the past) with ReFuel and the City. (We have) a really good relationship with them, and we’re happy to (partner with them). Now we’ll just be open 24 hours (during severe weather events). If people in the community need a place to go to stay warm and safe, that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to stay open.”

Rose Jewell, the city of Washougal’s community engagement manager, helped to coordinate the logistics of the collaboration. Jewell serves on the boards of both ReFuel and the Salvation Army.

“I already had an established relationship with the employees at Salvation Army,” Billings said. “I kind of feel like this (merger) was in the works a lot longer than I knew about. Last year, the Salvation Army really stepped up for the (ReFuel) shelter. They had a lot of volunteers, when previously it would pretty much just be one or two employees or volunteers from the Salvation Army that would participate, specifically Kendra (Taggart). She was always there, and she would always take the last shift in the morning, so all she had to do was go over to the Salvation Army and open it up, because they would open up early the days that the shelter was open.

“Also, one other thing they did (last year) was bus people between the two locations, and that was a first. That was awesome. I was really thankful to them because it was rough out there (weather-wise).”

The change is bittersweet for Billings, who said she remains committed to serving unhoused community members.

“Bob and I had a bigger vision for the homeless here, and now I feel like my baby’s been taken away from me, even though I’m not the one that started it,” said Billings.

The merge is expected to be permanent, according to Billings and Wheeler.

The Washougal Community Severe Weather Shelter will be activated during severe winter weather, when temperatures are forecasted to be at or below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, especially when accompanied by ice or snow events.

The shelter can only open when there are enough volunteers.

Volunteers must attend a training class and complete a background check before signing up for shifts for the 2024-25 season.

“We have had some returning volunteers already; it’s like the one volunteer thing that they do every year,” Billings said. “We’ve got some really good core people, but unfortunately, it’s not enough. … We couldn’t just rely on the core people because it wouldn’t be enough to be open. We’re always taking in new volunteers.”

For more information about the training classes, call The Salvation Army at 360-835-3171 or email [email protected] vationarmy.org.