Haven emergency homeless shelter set to open soon

The Whidbey Homeless Coalition is preparing to open the Haven, an emergency shelter located in the countryside near Coupeville.

To celebrate this milestone, the coalition is welcoming community members to join their housewarming fundraiser from 12-3 p.m. on Aug. 26, outside of the building at 331 Morris Road, where they’ll find a buffet, live music, a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $20 per person or $50 per family.

Coalition officials hope to open the shelter in late September.

For years, the coalition has been helping unhoused community members at temporary locations in Oak Harbor, rotating between three churches. Zoning code at the time hindered the group’s efforts to find a suitable location within city limits.

Finally, in 2020, the Washington State Department of Commerce awarded the Langley-based nonprofit a $415,000 shelter grant, which the coalition used to purchase a vacant Jehovah’s Witness church in 2021 to convert into an emergency shelter.

Since the project was announced, the coalition has faced both backlash and support from community members, with a petition opposing the shelter garnering over 300 signatures in 2021, and a petition in favor that was signed by over 750 people in 2022. A property owner’s opposition to the project led to a legal battle in late 2022 that ended two appeals later, after the Island County hearing examiner decided the project could move forward.

Shellie Moore, a member of the coalition’s board of directors, said the project has taken much longer to complete than the members hoped because of the court process, the county’s zoning code interpretation of the site and the bidding process. According to the coalition’s website, the shelter was expected to operate by late 2022.

Though the coalition will no longer operate emergency shelters in Oak Harbor, the new location offers the advantage of being a more central location on the island, thus easier to reach from distant locations. Additionally, it’s closer to the hospital.

Moore hopes the event will clear up questions and misconceptions some community members and neighbors may have on the project, as the event offers the opportunity to tour the building.

“I understand there are neighbors that still have concerns about being next door,” she said, “but we would love for them to come and understand that we’re not going to be having wild parties or a tent city out in the field.”

Moore explained that guests will come after dinner time to eat and spend the night in peace before they leave by 7 o’clock in the morning. Those who break the rules — such as bringing drugs, alcohol and weapons, or behaving aggressively — will be removed from the program. RVs or vans are also not allowed on or outside of the property, unless vehicle owners receive a permit to bring their vehicle for work reasons.

“The people who want to use drugs all night and party don’t come to the Haven. They will find another place where they can do that,” Moore said. “Not that that’s never not the case, but when that happens, we make it clear that that’s not what this place is about.”

The shelter will host up to 30 guests in need of a place to spend the night. These people might be individuals or families that were just evicted, or found themselves in a dangerous situation at home or were released from the hospital with nowhere to go. Some might only spend one night at the facility, while others could need to stay for months.

After upgrading the septic system, certifying the well for water use, installing the fire suppression system, bringing furniture and adding a laundry and food service area, the coalition is working on the last touches and waiting for two more inspections before opening in late summer or early fall. The showers, Moore said, will be added after operations begin, though it’s unclear when.

Some community members have expressed concerns about the facility’s proximity to the Navy’s landing field, but Moore said the building is insulated enough to reduce the sound of aircraft.

For more information, visit whidbeyhomeless.org.