Cold Weather Shelter

The Cold Weather Shelter is now open nightly in a dedicated space at Grace Church at 1201 North B Street. Guest check-in is available from 7-8PM. The closest bus stop is on line #16 at 14th Ave & B St (near Mercer Creek Church & Kiwanis Park). To get to check in, guests can use the Northbound Line #16 bus departing at 6:25 p.m. from Ruby St & 4th Ave (near Safeway).

More information about the shelter, contact information, and opportunities to volunteer and donate are available on the HopeSource CWS page. 

The Cold Weather Shelter has long been a community partnership. For the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 seasons, the City is leasing the space from the church hosts and partnering to make safety improvements for regular overnight use and Kittitas County is partnering to contract an operator. Faith and community volunteers and catering donations help make this community service possible.  

The 2024-2025 Cold Weather Shelter served 69 different guests over the season, providing 1,194 person-nights of shelter. 126 volunteers helped with shelter operations last season and generous donations from local restaurants helped reduce food costs.

Background

The City and County had previously discussed the possibility of a year-round emergency sleep center, but decided to focus efforts on the seasonal cold weather shelter. Watch the May 8, 2025 City Council/Kittitas County Joint Study Session.

At the May 19, 2025 City Council meeting, the Ellensburg City Council voted to discontinue siting of a year-round emergency sleep center and to focus efforts on establishing a seasonal cold weather shelter site and services.

Cold Weather Shelter

  2. Cold Weather Shelter Questions/Concerns

  4. If you have a question about the Cold Weather Shelter, you can reach out to Lily Frey, City of Ellensburg Housing Program Manager, at freyl@ellensburgwa.gov, or fill out this form. Your contact information is requested for follow-up.

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