As local temperatures are expected to hover around 45 degrees or lower during the day, the King County Regional Homelessness Authority is taking measures to ensure that people out on the streets can stay warm.

The Authority was created in 2019 as an independent agency that pools state and local resources to significantly decrease homelessness throughout King County, using equity and social justice principles. Its work includes response protocols, called tiers, to aid and support people experiencing homelessness during inclement or cold weather.

The Authority announced on Monday that it will activate severe weather response protocols from November 6-11, providing warming centers and issuing funding and resources to outreach workers and service providers. According to the National Weather Service, high temperatures from Tuesday to Friday of this week are expected to be seasonably cold.

The Authority said on Monday that it will activate tier 2—triggered when daily high temperatures are predicted to be no greater than 45 degrees for three consecutive days—from November 6 through November 11. Under tier 2, the Authority said, it will make available emergency funding for outreach workers and service providers, who can also request warm clothing, wool or synthetic socks and gloves, sleeping bags, blankets, handwarmers and food.

The Authority also said it was extending hours at the Downtown Seattle-based Compass Center Day Center, a facility that provides meals, basic services, housing support and mental health counseling. Day Center hours have been extended from Sunday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Center is expected to remain open overnight from Tuesday through Thursday, as low temperatures are expected to be at or near freezing.

We’re grateful for the leadership of the King County Regional Homeless Authority to ensure there are indoor spaces that are safe, dry and warm.

Gordon McHenry, Jr., United Way of King County president and CEO

In addition, the Authority said the following locations serve as daytime warming centers, short-term emergency shelters that protect people from the cold:

• Day centers for adults
• The Salvation Army at both Jefferson Day Center (7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily) and White Center Community Center (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 10:45 a.m. to noon)
• Seattle Indian Center Day Center (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:40 p.m.)
• Immanuel Community Services (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• Urban Rest stops: 2024-B NW 57^th Street (Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) and 1924 Ninth Avenue (Monday to Friday from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
• Chief Seattle Club Day Center (Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• Aurora Commons (Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• Bread of Life Mission (Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.)
• Immanuel Lutheran (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• Day centers for women, families and youth
• Elizabeth Gregory Home (women only, Sunday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
• Mary’s Place Day Center (women and children only, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.)

• YouthCare locations
• Orion Center (ages 12 to 24 only, Monday and Wednesday to Friday, 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.)
• University District Youth Center (ages 12 to 24 only, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.).
• South Seattle (ages 12 to 24, open 24 hours except when closed on Wednesday from 12:45 p.m. to 3 p.m.)

• Street Youth Ministries (Monday to Tuesday, 12:45 p.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday to Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)

• New Horizons Ministries (Monday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.)

The Authority said that King County and Seattle libraries are open for daytime warming and local malls, including the Outlet Collection (Auburn) and Westfield Southcenter (Tukwila), are also open for daytime warming.

United Way of King County supports the work of the Authority and applauds its efforts to help people experiencing homelessness seek shelter and support from the elements.

“No one wants to live outside.  It is appropriate and necessary that we prioritize the health of our neighbors who are homeless, especially during adverse weather,” said United Way president and CEO Gordon McHenry, Jr., who currently sits on the Authority’s implementation board.  We’re grateful for the leadership of the King County Regional Homeless Authority to ensure there are indoor spaces that are safe, dry and warm.”