Why Julia West House is Drawing Some Fire From The Homeless

As Portland prepares for its next round of crappy weather, some people are grumbling that Julia West House didn't open when it was most needed for its homeless clientele — during yesterday's cold aftermath of Sunday's snow.

"Monday was the very day the homeless needed a warm cup of coffee and a place to hang out of the cold, the most,” said a shelter volunteer who asked to remain anonymous. “There's an obvious irony in this.”

Julia West's staff say the decision was a product of staff not being able to make it in. Operations director Cathy Harris says the decision to close the shelter at 522 SW 13th Ave. came at 9 pm on Sunday. At that point, a big sign went on the shelter's building to tell folks about the closure.

Julia West House, which Harris says provides services for 50-80 people, bills itself on its web site as offering “hospitality and a place…for those who have nowhere else to go.” Under normal conditions, The Julia West House is open Monday-Saturday, 6:30am-3:30pm; minus Thursday when they close at 1:30 pm ... or apparently when it snows.