December 29, 2020 9:30 a.m.

The Roseburg Dream Center is operating differently for now, due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizer Christopher Hutton said the non-profit moved in September from its long-time home at Foundation Fellowship in downtown, to a building at 2555 Northeast Diamond Lake Boulevard. Hutton said the expenses in operating the new facility are over four times what they were previously. The new location is on one floor which helps with ADA accessibility issues. It also has a large parking lot.

While many regular outreach efforts continue, the drop-in center and the Warming Center are both closed. COVID restrictions contribute to the reason. For the Warming Center, a new process set up by the City of Roseburg, means the organization has to write up a number of formal policies and get them approved, so that the new location can be used for housing people during cold weather. Hutton said they are hoping to have that done and an application submitted, before next year’s cold season.

Hutton said that means this winter they will essentially take the Warming Center to those in need. Those who want to help can contribute financially or by donating items like sub-freezing sleeping bags, tents, brown or green tarps, gloves, winter hats, and winter coats.

More information is available at: http://roseburgdreamcenter.org/, and on the group’s Facebook page.

Christopher Hutton was on the Morning Conversation Tuesday on News Radio 1240 KQEN. That interview is a KQEN podcast at www.541radio.com