Severe weather shelters are closing today, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 due to rising temperatures and decreased wind chill.
Temperatures will not reach the shared severe weather thresholds that Multnomah County and City of Portland officials use — in consultation with Emergency Management, the Health Department, County Human Services, the Department of Homeless Services (formerly the Joint Office of Homeless Services), and the National Weather Service — to jointly decide shelter plans.
Multnomah County and the City of Portland’s nearly 3,000 year-round shelter beds and 200 winter-only overnight shelter beds are open tonight.
Anyone seeking shelter should contact 211info by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-866-698-6155. 211info staff are available to identify shelters in Multnomah County 24/7, along with transportation options.
If you are concerned about someone you see during colder conditions, such as an individual who is not dressed for the weather conditions, call the non-emergency response line at 503-823-3333 and request a welfare check.
If someone is unsheltered and their life appears to be in danger, call 9-1-1 for medical attention.
State of emergency declared, shelters opened
On Monday, Feb. 10, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson declared a state of emergency due to the winter weather and extended it to today, Saturday, as conditions worsened. Since then, the County opened severe weather shelters — rapidly extending hours and adding locations as bitter cold and and snow arrived.
Together, with the city of Portland’s two seasonal shelters, the County offered respite to more than 920 people at a total of 10 sites on both Thursday and Friday nights.
The County will be reporting the full details of the emergency activation as soon as the teams working on the emergency return to normal duties.
During an emergency activation, the County also reports any deaths the Medical Examiner identifies as a suspected hypothermia death. As of 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, the Multnomah County Medical Examiner’s Program has confirmed one hypothermia death occurring on Feb. 2, 2025, in Portland. The person was male and found in the 97219 ZIP code.
Watch the latest updates and learn more about the thresholds at multco.us/cold.
Ongoing work beyond shelters
Even when severe weather thresholds aren't met, the Department of Homeless Services (formerly the Joint Office of Homeless Services) may issue a “cold weather alert” as cold and wet conditions warrant. This activates enhanced outreach.
This winter, the Department has conducted an unprecedented enhanced activation that started Jan. 10. During this enhanced outreach, Homeless Services staff divide the County into zones and work with nonprofit providers and community groups to make sure each zone has one or more teams checking on people without shelter and delivering life-safety supplies, including warm clothing, blankets and hand warmers. During shelter activations, outreach groups also share information about emergency shelter locations, hours and transportation options.
Although final tallies are still being compiled and will be updated, between Jan. 10 and Feb. 14, the Department of Homeless Services, through its coordinated outreach program, distributed at least:
- 6,100 hand warmers
- 1,224 hoodies
- 1,224 pairs of sweatpants
- 6,100 ponchos
- 3,660 warm hats
- 3,660 pairs of warm gloves
- 7,320 pairs of socks
- 6,154 wool blankets
- 5,790 tarps
- 1,088 tents
- 1,094 sleeping bags
- 6,100 mylar blankets
- 113,548 bottles of water.
To all who volunteered, conducted outreach, checked on their neighbors and worked in the shelters — thank you!