With colder weather on the horizon, preparations are underway for a local network of warming centers. Besides reduced funds, it’s also uncertain if a Springfield site will be available.
St. Vincent de Paul plans to operate three Egan Warming Centers across the Eugene-Springfield metro area. These facilities open up for overnight stays when the outside temperature drops below freezing. Bill Bernard, the organization’s director of operations, told KLCC that over the last year and a half, disruptions at the federal level have essentially halved funding for operations.
“Last year we had record private donations that allowed us to keep operating,” said Bernard. “We had more volunteers, we had to get more creative and buckle down to figure out ways to provide our service at a lower cost. But we made it happen, and St. Vincent de Paul will continue to do that this year.”
Bernard says one concern is whether or not Springfield will have a warming center this year, as some commercial tenants there have raised concerns…