YACHATS — The five small homeless shelters in a local church’s parking lot aren’t yet fully operational, but organizers hope to have them open soon.
A Eugene electrician who worked on the units earlier this winter will return this week for another adjustment. Central Lincoln Peoples Utility District requires a separate pole in order to run electricity to the shelters, which are located in the west parking lot of Yachats Community Presbyterian Church. Pastor Bob Barrett and his son, Zach, set a 16-foot pole last week, which will enable the utility to connect the units.
In the meantime, the Yachats Unhoused Committee, the local group in charge of the shelters, continues to meet weekly to develop policies and procedures.
The units were funded by a city allocation of $70,000 from an unused pandemic loan fund, a $20,000 grant from Lincoln County and the $15,000 donated privately.
Each 8-by-8 foot shelter can house one to two people. Called “Don’s Place,” the project is named after Don Dougherty, a well-regarded local homeless man who died last fall after being found unresponsive in his car.
Don’s Place is for emergency shelter in seasonal cold weather. Plans are for the units to operate from Nov. 1 through March 31, and to be open on any day when temperatures drop to 35 degrees or less, or 40 degrees or less and raining.
