Love Overwhelming

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...

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 ...