Officials say a temporary warming shelter could be available for LC Valley homeless individuals in about a week.
The Lewiston Tribune reports that First Step 4 Life, is working to obtain a heavy-duty, military-style tent it would place in the downtown area for the shelter that would be similar to one that was at Lewiston’s Salvation Army last winter. Officials from the city and First Step 4 Life are talking about what permits would be required for the tent on a proposed private lot.
First Step 4 Life officials say the lot is on Ninth Street just south of the Weisgerber furniture store building at the base of the grade and has room for a 32-foot-by-20-foot tent with space for 20 beds that would be staffed from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., seven days a week.
Portable restrooms with access for those with disabilities would be available outside the tent for those who stayed there and staff would enforce rules and also try to connect people staying at the shelter with agencies to help them find work, medical care and permanent housing.
Temperatures are expected to plummet region-wide with single digit lows forecast for the LC Valley by early next week.
