We learned last week (Nov. 13) at the Jackson County Democratic Party Health Care Caucus that, despite the approval of an emergency shelter in Ashland to provide indoor protection for unhoused folks when the temperature reaches 32 degrees, there had been no announcement of a shelter for the upcoming weekend when temperatures were expected to drop below that. 

The City Council budgeted $200,000 over the two-year city budget (2023 to 2025) to support a severe weather shelter, which opens during periods of extreme cold (less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit), extreme heat (over 95 degrees), and dangerous air quality due to wildfire smoke (over 150 on the Air Quality Index). 

In addition, the city of Ashland has received state funding that required that the shelters operate until January 10, 2024. The property at 2200 Ashland Street, purchased by the city in 2023, is not up to code and may have been a poor purchase given the grant requirements: “This funding requires quick action by communities to purchase sites with buildings that can become shelters with little renovation.”

Our Health Care Caucus worked hard to get this issue addressed several years back. It is time to pressure our local government to protect our vulnerable people. There is an Ashland City Council meeting this Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m.  

We encourage folks to send written testimony to the council or present testimony in person. Our community needs to hear from all of us. People can die from exposure at these temperatures! Please join us in demanding that the Ashland City Council protect the health of our community members during these cold winter days. You can go on the council website to submit testimony.

Andy Seles

Member, Jackson County Democratic Party Health Care Caucus