November 21, 2008

TO: Gigi Callaizakis, Director, Boiler Room

FR: deForest Walker, Director, Housing Services Division

RE: Boiler Room open hours

I am writing to let you know how important the Boiler Room is to the homeless members of our community. This is especially true in the winter months when the Jefferson County Winter Shelter is in operation, from late November through the first week in March.

This year marks the fourth season of the Winter Shelter, and the third year it will be located at the Marvin G. Shields American Legion Post #26, at Water and Monroe Streets in downtown Port Townsend.

Shelter guests and other homeless citizens have relied upon the Boiler Room as a place to get out of the weather and off the street in the morning hours when few public venues are open. In past seasons, the Boiler Room has been very well utilized by Winter Shelter guests, who depart the Legion facility by 8 a.m. daily. Last winter, the shelter served 76 separate individuals, a 38% increase over the previous year. Since the shelter’s inception, between 25 and 30 percent of our guests have been US military veterans.

All of us involved in operating the Winter Shelter are hoping that the Boiler Room will again be open in the morning hours this winter, where shelter guests have always been offered hospitality and treated with respect. The Boiler Room fills an important gap in providing a safe place indoors where people may wait until the bus comes or until the library opens.

On behalf of all the folks in our community who benefit from the Boiler Room, thank you for all your work!

deForest Walker