We welcome single adults, parents with children, families and teens. The shelter does not allow pets. The only animals allowed in the shelter are trained service dogs, and owners must specify their qualifications to enter.

Everyone at the shelter must be a registered guest or trained volunteer — we are not open to the general public for safety and confidentiality.

You can check to see if the shelter is open here.

If you need assistance getting to the closest Severe Weather Shelter, call G2G2 at 360-373-3000 before 8pm for transportation.

We allow guests to arrive between 6pm-9pm for check-in procedures, and wake guests starting at 6am for a departure at 6:30am. As a temporary shelter, we share the Village Green Community Center with many other groups and scheduled activities, therefore we cannot offer daytime shelter services.

It’s tough to ask guests to leave in the winter when it’s still dark and cold outside, so we offer guests a breakfast voucher to extend their morning in a warm place where they can sit and enjoy a meal.

We host the Severe Weather Shelter at the Village Green Community Center located at 26159 Dulay Rd NE, Kingston, WA 98346.

You can see the updated list of Severe Weather Shelters in Kitsap County, and whether they are open, here.

• Building security. On activation nights, all the exterior Village Green doors are locked except one. Our volunteer station sits adjacent to that door, which guests may only enter until 9 pm. After that, check-in closes, and the building stays locked until morning.

• Support systems. We train volunteers on-site at the Village Green so they know what to expect and how things work. We assign two volunteers to each crew, teaming new people with experienced staff so there’s always someone in-the-know on hand. And our shelter manager is available by phone at all times whenever the shelter is open.

• Outside assistance. The Kingston shelter is known for being a quiet, calm, and safe haven for overnight guests and volunteers. Since opening in 2013, we’ve had very few incidents requiring outside intervention, and in those limited cases local law enforcement responded swiftly and effectively.

• All persons entering the shelter will be asked to sign in between 6pm-9pm. The shelter will close the following day at 6:30am. There will not be a background check performed.

• All belongings will be checked in. You may keep things needed for the night like a teddy bear, book, or medications.

• There will be no use of drugs or alcohol. Smoking will only be allowed outside in designated areas before 10pm.

• Follow the basic rules of conduct, no fighting or disturbing others while you are in the shelter. Guests will be asked to leave if you do not follow shelter rules.

• Currently no arrangements have been made for pets and they will not be allowed in the shelter. Trained service dogs are permitted if owners can demonstrate qualifications and adequate training.

• 5:30 pm – 10 pm:  The check-in crew sets up the shelter amenities, registers guests, and settles them in for the night.

• 10 pm – 2 am:  The night crew monitors the building and ensures that everyone is safe and quiet.

• 2 am – 6:30 am: This shift supports guests through the remainder of the night and wakes them around 530am so they can prepare for check-out by 6:30 am.

• 6 am – 8 am: The cleanup crew breaks down the shelter amenities and does the required cleaning.

The shelter is only “activated” (open) when the temperature falls below freezing or when it snows or rains one inch or more. If the forecast predicts these conditions at any point during the shelter season (November 1 – April 1), volunteers receive an email listing the expected activation dates. Our volunteers let us know via email which dates and shifts work for them and our scheduler gets back to them ASAP.

• You must be registered with the Kitsap County Dept. of Emergency Management. The process involves filling out several forms and being subject to a background check. Follow the link to apply to get the process started here.

• You must be reliable. We need to count on you to staff the shifts you sign up for and let us know ASAP if you can’t make it so we can fill your spot.

• You must have reliable transportation and feel confident in your ability to reach the shelter — even in hazardous conditions.

• You must be flexible. Our most treasured volunteers are those who are able to staff any shift, especially when we find ourselves shorthanded.

Volunteers are offered on-site training at the beginning of each season as well as on-the-job training. Training includes facility specifics, as well as de-escalation, first aid, use of Narcan, and AED use. A comprehensive volunteer manual covers what is required during each of the four shifts. Volunteers always work with a partner, and we pair new volunteers with seasoned volunteers.

The Severe Weather Shelter was Kingston Cares’ first official program, with the first season in November 2014. Coordinating with Michelle Laboda at North Kitsap Fire & Rescue, the Miller Bay Fire Station graciously hosted the pilot season of the all-volunteer run Severe Weather Shelter until building amendments were made to use the old community center and library. By 2016, Kingston Cares worked to partner with the Village Green Foundation, Metropolitan Park Department and Kitsap County Department of Emergency Management to have the Severe Weather Shelter hosted permanently at the Village Green Community Center – only yards away from the pea patch toolshed that sparked our beginning as a nonprofit.

Community support keeps this program thriving. Your financial contribution allows for us to have the most flexibility in purchasing cots, bed linens, towels, food, gift cards, signage, pay for snow plowing services and more. Follow our link to donate here.

We do not accept donations of food or clothing due to lack of storage space, so we encourage you to donate clothing and food items to ShareNet or Fishline, who also support our unhoused neighbors in North Kitsap.

If you wish to make a non-cash donation, you can purchase gift cards at McDonalds or Grocery Outlet in $10 increments, and drop them off at the Village Green front desk in an envelope marked “Severe Weather Shelter”.

Thank you for your support!

If you have questions about how to volunteer and want to communicate with someone on our Severe Weather Shelter team, please reach out using the Contact Us button at the bottom of this page.