Oak Harbor’s first emergency shelter for the homeless opened Thursday with seven clients, four men and three women.

Called the Haven and managed by the Whidbey Homeless Coalition, the shelter’s first home is in the fellowship hall of Christian Reformed Church, 1411 Wieldraayer Road, near Swantown Road.

The coalition hopes to rotate its cots, bedding and other supplies to area churches that will commit to a three-month stint until a permanent site for the Haven is found.

Clients were shuttled to the church in donated vans after going through a check-in process at Spin Cafe, a drop-in resource center in downtown Oak Harbor.

• To volunteer, call Shawna Pinder, Shelter Manager at 360-977-1200 or email to Shawnapinder@gmail.com.