A second winter overnight homeless shelter operated by Lincoln County opened at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23 in Lincoln City after weeks of renovations needed to make it habitable.
The county changed locations for its first shelter in Lincoln City, deciding not to remodel a warehouse-like building it purchased in the Oceanlake area and instead buying a building in a commercial zone at 2125 N.W. Highway 101. But instead of opening Nov. 1, it needed renovations and the county used a van to take people to the Newport shelter each evening and back again in the morning.
The new Lincoln City shelter is near a day-use center, mental health and transition services and just blocks from where the county will be moving its medical clinic.
The county’s Health and Human Services department bought the shelter building for $695,000 but that expense will be partially offset by the sale of the Oceanlake building.
“We are incredibly happy to finally have a permanent home for the winter shelter in Lincoln City,” Health and Human Services director Jayne Romero said in a news release. “We appreciate the support from our various funders and the help we received from county staff, to city staff to contractors, who have made this possible.”
A contractor is still remodeling the county’s first shelter on Southwest Seventh Street in Newport and the county is using First Presbyterian Church in Newport as an overnight shelter until that work is finished early next year.
Shelter workers are seeking donations men and women’s clothing in all sizes including waterproof jackets, waterproof boots, shower flip-flops, hoodies, T-shirts, socks, underwear, belts, personal hygiene items, basic shelter supplies like toilet paper, trash bags of all sizes, pillows, and dog and cat food.
To apply to volunteer or to arrange for donation pick-up or drop-off, or to make a donation, contact shelter manager Andrea Ibarra at 541-272-9647 or by email aibarra@co.lincoln.or.us.
