Medford Confirms Severe Weather Shelter Will Open This Winter as Freezing Temperatures Loom
MEDFORD, Ore. — The City of Medford confirmed that the Medford Severe Weather Shelter, located at 332 W. 6th Street, operated by ACCESS with the City of Medford’s Office of Emergency Management, will be open this winter to ensure that the community’s most vulnerable residents have access to life-saving shelter during periods of extreme cold.
The Medford Severe Weather Shelter, a critical resource that provides warmth, safety, and essential services for our unhoused neighbors when weather conditions become dangerous during the coldest days of the year, offers 64 beds and provides guests with a safe place to sleep with warm meals and beverages during their stay.
In coordination with the City of Medford’s Office of Emergency Management, ACCESS reviews conditions to determine when the shelter should open.
The criteria for activation are that National Weather Service forecasts meet one of the following jointly established thresholds for two or more consecutive days:
- Temperatures of 25°F or below with no precipitation, or
- Temperatures of 32°F or below with precipitation.
Forecasts can shift quickly, and both ACCESS and the City work diligently to anticipate weather patterns and respond appropriately.
Because shelter safety requires significant coordination, 2–3 days of notice are needed to secure staffing, volunteers, and resources. The availability of trained staff and volunteers is the most critical factor in opening the shelter- without adequate support, the shelter cannot operate safely.
If you want to volunteer or support shelter operations to help ensure adequate staffing throughout the cold-weather season, go to accesshelps.org.