The purpose of the Emergency Response Shelters Network is to build the capacity of the homeless services system to provide a safe place for individuals who are homeless to be during any type of emergency that requires sheltering people (e.g., extreme heat, cold weather, wildfires, unhealthy air quality). Network goals are: (1) to expand cold weather shelters between October and March of each year, and (2) to develop a response system that provides emergency sheltering during extreme climate events (heat, flood, fire) and other humanitarian crises.
The Emergency Response Shelters Network develops specific objectives and implements activities in support of its goals. Examples include:
- Establish a library of policies and procedures.
- Develop a tool kit of best practices.
- Create a set of “activation protocols” for the region.
- Identify mechanisms to rapidly communicate and engage clients in emergency shelter services.
- Conduct interagency training activities.
The Emergency Response Shelters Network is a subcommittee of the CoC Collaborative Committee. The Network is facilitated by Lindsay Dent, ARCHES Program Manager, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency, lindsay.dent@mwvcaa.org.
Network leadership also includes:
Laura Russo, Program Manager, Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency
laura.russo@mwvcaa.org
Lynelle Wilcox, SafeSleep Program Manager
lwilcox@unitedwaymwv.org