Sleeping outside or in tents can be especially dangerous during winter months, when Portlands temperature often drops below freezing.
Sleeping outside or in tents can be especially dangerous during winter months, when Portland's temperature often drops below freezing. JOSHUARAINEYPHOTOGRAPHY / GETTY IMAGES

A winter homeless shelter opens for the season tonight at 1150 NW 17th. It will accommodate 75 children and their parents.

The shelter, operated by Portland Homeless Family Solutions, will serve families from 6 pm to 8 am everyday through April 30 of next year. It's hosted by the City of Portland and Multnomah County’s Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS).

Portland regularly opens additional shelters in the winter months, when dropping temperatures and harsh weather conditions make it especially unsafe to sleep outside or in a car. The shelter on NW 17th will replace last year’s location at Congregation Beth Israel.

Last month, the JOHS opened another winter shelter for men, women, and couples at 5329 NE Martin Luther King. JOHS also added beds to its veterans shelter in Rose City Park, and in the youth homeless shelter system, to accommodate an expected winter surge in demand. Portsmouth Union Church, at 4775 N Lombard, is also hosting 50 beds for anyone seeking shelter this winter.

Find out more about these shelters here.

Local nonprofit JOIN is accepting donations of the following items for houseless people at its Portland office, at 1435 NE 81st, Suite 100:

● Footwear and thick socks
● Waterproof/resistant gloves or mittens (preferably dark colors/black)
● Waterproof/resistant winter coats (adult sizes)
● Sleeping bags and warm blankets
● Waterproof/resistant hats (preferably dark colors/black)
● Knit hats (preferably dark colors/black)
● Tarps (preferably brown, dark colors)
● Hand warmers
● Rain ponchos