A round of freeze warnings were issued for parts of the Bay Area on Friday, prompting counties to open cold weather shelters to the homeless.
The first warning lasted through 9 a.m. on Friday, with temperatures dropping below 30 degrees in some areas, according to the National Weather Service. The areas included the region's inland valley and mountain areas as well as Monterey County.
A second freeze warning was issued late Friday and lasted until 9 a.m. Saturday. A frost advisory has also been issued for the same period for coastal areas and along the San Francisco Bay shoreline. Temperatures in those areas are expected to range from 32 to 35 degrees.
“We need to provide shelter to as many people as we can and as soon as we can,” Santa Clara County Board President Dave Cortese said. “We may be in for a long cold and wet winter, which can be life-threatening to those struggling to survive outside.”
In response to the forecast, Santa Clara County is opening the South County "Cold Weather Shelter" in Gilroy starting Friday night, and, officials are working with local shelters to add up to 200 additional beds.
Other shelters that will be opening up beds include: the Bill Wilson Center, City Team Ministries, Salvation Army, HomeFirst’s Boccardo Reception Center, and IVSN Montgomery Street Inn, all in San Jose; and Project WeHOPE in East Palo Alto.Typically, the shelters open on Nov. 30, but leaders decided to open them on Thanksgiving because of the forecast.
In addition, 13 warming center will open Monday at public libraries, community and senior centers around Santa Clara County.
Here is a list of shelter information in the South Bay:
Local
Gilroy Shelter Outreach Center
National Guard Armory
8940 Wren Avenue
Gilroy, CA 95020
(408) 848-8023 (during operating hours only)
The Gilroy Shelter will serve adults and families, with beds for up to 130 people. The shelter will be open from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. daily. Clients must be onsite by 5:00 p.m. for intake. The shelter will provide a warm bed, two nutritious meals, and a hot shower. A variety of supportive services will also be offered, including counseling to help set short-term goals, employment resources, medical care, and referrals to other services. Volunteers often provide haircuts, and donated toiletries and clothing are often available to those who need them.
Boccardo Reception Center
2011 Little Orchard
San Jose, CA 95125
(408) 510-7502
The shelter serves adults only. All beds that are not in use by regular programs will be made available up to the shelter’s capacity of 250. Clients must be onsite by 3:30 p.m. to join the lottery for bed assignments, and the shelter opens at 4:00 p.m. Meals are served daily.
North County Shelter (to open in early December)
1100 Innovation Way, Sunnyvale
HomeFirst also has a wish list for what the agency needs to help the homeless this year. For more information on donations, visit HomeFirst's website.
