The Emergency Shelter Network did not get local government funding this year, but donations have been coming through the mail as word of its funding crunch has spread. The group needs more to make up for the $23,000 it had expected in local funding, said Marianne Lambert, executive director for the Family Support Center, which runs ESN.
"We've received just loads of small personal checks and several substantial checks," Lambert said. "That will sustain a couple months of programming. It's a good start."
The money is coming in the midst of a cold snap. Temperatures these past few days have dipped below freezing. Tuesday night's low was 19 degrees, and Wednesday's was 23 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle.
Temperatures could continue to be as low as the upper 20s during the next few days, said Dustin Guy, spokesman for the weather service.
On the streets
On Wednesday night on the streets of downtown Olympia, a few homeless men who declined to give their names said they would bundle in sleeping bags, blankets and with each other to stay warm for the night because they prefer not to go to shelters. The past few days have been cold, but they've experienced this kind of chill before, they said.
The Salvation Army and Interfaith Works, which is a network of religious establishments, are open. In addition, Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and Thurston County also are opening up government buildings as an emergency men's overflow shelter.
In Lacey, another group of homeless advocates is continuing to deliver backpacks with toiletries, lip balm, mittens, socks, blankets and other items to those camped out in the wooded areas off of Sleater-Kinney Road, Martin Way and in Hawks Prairie. They were last out Christmas Day and will head out again this weekend with the help of Lacey police escorts, said Kelly Wilson, coordinator.
The group is encouraging the homeless to stay in shelters at night. They've included a laminated card with telephone numbers for the ESN and other resources and a phone card in the backpacks.
"Most have makeshift tents made out of tarps and blankets, but some are just tucked into the trees," Wilson said. "I can't imagine what it's like. I go to bed and it's cold (in my house), and I wake up and see how cold it is outside."
The ESN is the central office that takes calls from homeless people looking for a warm place to sleep for the night, and routes them to the appropriate shelter.
The Human Services Review Council is the group of officials from Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and the county that pools local dollars and distributes them to social service agencies each year. The council received almost twice as many requests than there was money to fill them, and it distributed $391,000 to 20 programs. The ESN, which got funded in the past, was one of nine that did not get money this time.
Board members for the Family Support Center were among those donating to keep the ESN alive.
"Without that coordinating agency, I don't know how homeless people would be able to find shelter when it gets cold," said Hans Stoker, a board member, who declined to state the amount of his donation.
"Logistically, it's very difficult for them to call place after place after place for shelter. What are they going to do: stand there with a fist full of quarters and call every shelter? It's a logistical nightmare without the network."
Katherine Tam covers the city of Olympia for The Olympian. She can be reached at 360-704-6869 or at kathetam@olympia.gannett.com.
Homeless people looking for a warm place to sleep can call the Emergency Shelter Network at 360-528-8999. The ESN phone line is open from 7 to 10 p.m. when temperatures drop below freezing. Volunteers screen callers and then direct them to the appropriate shelter.
How to help
Those who want to donate to the ESN can send checks to P.O. Box 784, Olympia, WA 98507.
The Salvation Army also accepts donations, which can be brought to 824 Fifth Ave. S.E., Olympia.
People who want to donate to Homeless Backpacks can call coordinator Kelly Wilson at 360-438-6233 or e-mail her at keljwils62@comcast.net.