Warming shelters now open in King County ahead of winter weather

Severe weather shelters open in King County

Those who are seeking shelter during the cold weather are welcome

seattle - King County and Seattle have opened severe weather shelters to keep the homeless warm ahead of expected winter weather this week.

Western Washington is expecting below freezing low temperatures through the weekend and the Salvation Army will operate the shelter at the Fischer Pavilion at the Seattle Center (305 Harrison St, Seattle) every night from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. through Sunday.

The site can accommodate 80 people and entry is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Another warming shelter at King County’s Fourth Avenue and Jefferson Street building can accomodate 25 people.

These temporary shelters will meet COVID-19 safety protocols recommended by Public Health-Seattle & King County and the Centers for Disease Control which call for COVID-19 screening for guests, expanded space to allow physical distancing, hygiene access, and increased sanitation guidelines.

"It's been heartwarming. Certainly, we're all going through a challenging time during the pandemic, but folks have responded with a lot of 'thank yous,' a lot of appreciation," said Simon Foster, the director of operations at the Salvation Army.

You can find more information on these shelters by calling 206-735-9461 or 211.