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The Opioid Crisis in Cowlitz County Washington State

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The Opioid Crisis in Cowlitz County, Washington  Fentanyl, Overdose Deaths, and What the Data Shows in Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, Woodland, Kalama, and Toutle A Data Driven, Hyper Local Analysis for Cowlitz County Residents By Charles D. Hendrickson, Executive Director, Love Overwhelming Published February 5, 2026 Longview, Kelso, Cowlitz County, Washington State If you live in Longview WA, Kelso WA, Castle Rock WA, Woodland WA, Kalama WA, Toutle WA, or anywhere in Cowlitz County Washington, you have likely seen headlines about the opioid crisis. Editorials often frame the issue as a story about pharmaceutical companies destroying communities. That narrative may have applied twenty years ago. It does not fully explain what is happening in Cowlitz County today. As a resident of Southwest Washington, you deserve facts grounded in local data, not ideology. This analysis examines county and state level evidence to clarify what is actually driving overdose deaths in Cowlitz Coun...
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4 Unexpected Truths About How a Modern Severe Weather Shelter Actually Works

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 More Than a Roof 4 Unexpected Truths About How a Modern Severe Weather Shelter Actually Works Longview, Washington | Cowlitz County Emergency Response When most people hear the phrase severe weather shelter , they picture a simple solution: a warm room, a cot, and a blanket. A roof over someone’s head during freezing temperatures. That picture is not wrong, but it is incomplete. After eight consecutive nights of documented operations at the Severe Weather Shelter in Longview, Washington, the final data tells a much fuller story. What operated in Cowlitz County was not just a shelter. It was a coordinated care system, a public health intervention, and a community safety strategy working in real time. Here are four unexpected truths about how a modern severe weather shelter actually works and why it matters for Longview, Kelso, and all of Cowlitz County. It’s Not Just a Shelter. It’s a Pop-Up Healthcare Hub During activation, the shelter functioned as a temporary healthcare access ...
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Location: Longview, WA, USA
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Severe Weather Shelter in Longview WA | Cowlitz County Emergency Response

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Severe Weather Shelter in Longview WA  Cowlitz County Emergency Response By Chuck Hendrickson, Founder & Executive Director, Love Overwhelming Longview, Washington | Cowlitz County When severe weather hits Longview, Washington , the consequences are immediate for people living outside. Freezing temperatures, heavy rain, wind, and snow quickly turn into life-threatening conditions. In Cowlitz County , severe weather shelter is not optional infrastructure. It is a critical public safety and emergency response system . At Love Overwhelming , we operate the Longview Severe Weather Shelter to ensure that when conditions meet activation thresholds, people have access to a warm, safe place indoors. This work is grounded in dignity, accountability, and coordination with the City of Longview and community partners across Cowlitz County. Severe Weather Shelter in Longview WA Is a Coordinated Public Safety Response A severe weather shelter is not simply a building with beds. In Lon...
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Location: Cowlitz County, WA, USA
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Beyond the Shelter Door: What December’s Severe Weather Response Revealed About Homelessness in Cowlitz County

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Four (4) Things Cowlitz County's Data Taught Us About Homelessness When residents in Longview, Kelso, Castle Rock, Woodland, Kalama, and unincorporated Cowlitz County think about homelessness, they picture what's visible: someone sleeping outside, a line at a shelter, or a cold Washington winter night that feels uncomfortable but survivable. The data from Cowlitz County tells a deeper story. In December 2025, Cowlitz County Washington State experienced sustained freezing temperatures that created life-threatening conditions for people living outside across Longview WA, Kelso WA, and surrounding communities. The response to those nights and the outcomes that followed revealed four critical truths about homelessness in Cowlitz County that go far beyond shelter doors. These lessons matter because they show what actually works when Cowlitz County communities choose prevention, dignity, and accountability. 1. The Real Crisis Happens Before Emergency Systems Are Triggered When ...
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Location: Cowlitz County, WA, USA
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5 Surprising Truths About How Nonprofits Are Actually Funded

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5 Surprising Truths About How Nonprofits Are Actually Funded Have you ever looked up a nonprofit's tax form, seen a revenue figure in the millions, and wondered where all that money really goes? Maybe you’ve heard someone claim a local charity is "keeping 97% of donations" and felt a sense of skepticism or confusion. It’s a common reaction, but it’s often based on a fundamental misunderstanding of how modern community healthcare services are funded. The numbers on a tax document rarely tell the whole story. What looks like a massive pile of public donations is often something entirely different: a complex, highly regulated, and performance-based system of contracts and grants. This article will reveal the surprising reality behind those figures by breaking down five counter-intuitive truths about nonprofit funding. We’ll clarify what’s really happening with Medicaid contracts, healthcare grants, and community services funding to demystify the system designed to support ou...
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Location: Washington, USA
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When "Middle Class" Can't Afford Groceries Anymore: A Cowlitz County Reality Check

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When "Middle Class" Can't Afford Groceries Anymore: A Cowlitz County Reality Check By Charles D. Hendrickson, Executive Director, Love Overwhelming The comment section exploded: "A middle-class family can't afford this anymore." They weren't wrong. Here's the brutal math that proves it. The $202 Shopping Cart That Broke the Internet Someone posted their SNAP grocery haul online the other day. Milk. Eggs. Cheese. Pasta. Meat. Vegetables.  Nothing fancy. Just the basics every family needs. The total? $202 at Fred Meyer. The Rural County "Middle Class" Reality What Does Middle Class Even Mean Here? According to HUD's 2024 Area Median Income data: Middle-class household (3-4 people): $78,500–$87,000/year Actual median household income: $72,932 (2023 Census data) That sounds comfortable until you calculate take-home pay: Monthly after taxes: $4,200–$4,500 Now let's see where every dollar goes. Follow the Money: The Va...
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Location: Washington, USA
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Discovering Cowlitz County, Washington: A Complete Guide to Tourism, Festivals, and Community Pride

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  Welcome to Cowlitz County  By: Charles D. Hendrickson +  Harvey  Nestled in the southwestern corner of Washington State, Cowlitz County  is a land where rivers meet mountains, where history flows as surely as the Columbia and Cowlitz Rivers, and where community spirit runs deeper than the 1,140 square miles of forests, valleys, and volcanic landscapes that define this remarkable region. With a population of 113,982 (2024 estimate), Cowlitz County encompasses five incorporated cities - Longview (the largest), Kelso (the county seat), Castle Rock, Kalama, and Woodland - each with its own distinct character and proud traditions. The county's name derives from the anglicized Cowlitz Indian term "Cow-e-liske," meaning either "river of shifting sands" or "capturing the medicine spirit," a fitting description for a place where nature's power and human resilience intersect. Sources: Wikipedia: Cowlitz County Facts Cowlitz County Official Website W...
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