Winter Shelter Provides Much-Needed Refuge October 17, 2024 A shelter in Lincoln County will open for its second season on Nov. 1, giving people a safe place to stay and meet their basic needs during cold winter weather. The Community Shelter & Resource Center (CSRC) first opened in October 2023 with locations in Newport and Lincoln City. During the 2023-24 season, the CSRC shelters totaled 5,133 stays among 230 unique guests. 77% were from Lincoln County. 17% were veterans. 45% were ages 50 and above. Volunteers greet guests when they arrive and help them sign up for laundry, showers or personal care items. Then they go to the cafeteria for a hot meal. For 2024, the center has hired and is training new staff to interact with guests and keep them safe. “It’s really critical in this environment that staff is trained up to par, so everything runs smoothly,” said Chantelle Estess, CSRC manager. Training includes: Mental health first aid. How to recognize human trafficking. Conflict de-escalation. Handling bloodborne pathogens. Basic CPR. LGBTQ+ community support. Harm reduction and administering Narcan. The CSRC will also offer a doctor two days per week who can perform basic care, such as blood draws and treating open wounds to prevent infections. Two navigators will help guests find permanent housing and sign up for health care. “We see a difference in people when they feel good,” Estess said. “When they feel good, they’re able to cross the bridge into recovery.” Support From the CCO Funding was provided in part by IHN-CCO, which serves nearly 90,000 members across Benton, Lincoln and Linn counties. IHN-CCO gave $150,000 through its Delivery System Transformation (DST) Committee, and another $200,000 from the Oregon Health Authority’s Supporting Health for All through REinvestment (SHARE) Initiative. Both programs support projects that improve access to safe housing, healthy food and job opportunities. Alicia Bublitz, program manager for IHN-CCO and Samaritan Health Plans, said the shelters offer important resources for unhoused people. Guests get a hot meal, shower, clothes and a roof over their heads for the night. “IHN-CCO is dedicated to investing in projects that support community health,” Bublitz said. “We are pleased to partner with the CSRC to fill vital gaps in services for unhoused individuals living along the coast.” “It’s Helping so Many People” Ronald Spratlen knows just how vital these services are. Known locally as “Captain Ron,” Spratlen, 55, experienced tragedy in 2022 after his friend, Walter Hergert, died on the street without being able to get into a shelter for the night. “When I came here, there was a crew of people I hung out with. They were all great people,” Spratlen said. “Now, there aren’t many left.” Last year, Spratlen had to move out of the house where he was staying. He had sold his truck to pay for rent. Spratlen heard about the shelter from a friend and decided to check it out. “It is just the most awesome place,” he said. “You get fed, you get taken care of. Any needs you have, they take care of you.” For more information about CSRC shelters and resources available, please call 541-270-1005 in Newport and 541-819-4458 in Lincoln City.
