Where to Find Shelter From Rain and Floods in the Bay Area

Update, 8:20 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9. Please note that several shelters that were previously listed in this guide were closed after last week's storm, but may potentially open back up. We'll update this list if and when they do.

The Bay Area is bracing for the latest in a series of powerful storms, as a flood watch is applied to the entire region.

On Saturday, the National Weather Service issued the flood watch that will last through Tuesday for all of the Bay Area and the Central Coast, and said people should expect widespread flooding, mudslides and the rapid rise of creeks and rivers.

This latest round of storms comes after the "bomb cyclone" that hit the Bay Area on Jan. 4  that flooded roads and homes, brought down trees and resulted in power outages that affected tens of thousands of people.

As the region gets ready for more wet weather, people living in tents, RVs and cars are struggling to stay dry.

Jump straight to shelters available during Bay Area storms in:

• City and County of San Francisco
• Alameda County
• Santa Clara County
• Sonoma County
• Contra Costa County
• San Mateo County
• Santa Cruz County

'A nightmare'

Cities across the region have opened warming shelters to get unhoused people inside. But many aren't willing to leave their belongings exposed to the weather.

"It's a nightmare, when it rains here," said Lydia Blumberg, a resident of West Oakland’s Wood Street Commons encampment, after the New Year's Eve storm. "My site is entirely flooded."

Advocates say they are deeply concerned about residents’ safety.

"This really just exposes how dangerous it is to be living outside when we have a climate emergency going on and people have no way to dry off or get warm," said Talya Husbands-Hankin, founder of the advocacy organization Love and Justice in the Streets. "It’s really, really frightening."

She urged those who want to help to pass out tarps and share information with unhoused neighbors about where they can go for shelter. Other advocates have suggested warm blankets and clothes, socks, rain boots, rain jackets, tents, flashlights, batteries and other warm-weather gear.

Another way to help, said Husbands-Hankin, is to directly ask people what they need.

"And then figure out how to go and get it for them," she said.

Keep reading for where residents can access warming shelters in the Bay Area.

Shelters in San Francisco County

Shelter beds are available at the following sites through Sunday, Jan. 15. These beds are available for walk-up referrals accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis:

Next Door Shelter
1001 Polk Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

• Intake from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

MSC South
525 5th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

• Intake from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Sanctuary
201 8th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103

• Intake from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.

St. Mary’s Cathedral
1111 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA 94109

• Intake starts at 6 p.m.

San Francisco also has rotating shelters available through the Interfaith Winter Shelter Program, which runs through March 26. Please note the shelters below have different opening and closing dates.

St. Mary’s Cathedral
1111 Gough Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Available through Sunday, Jan. 22

• Doors open at 6 p.m; dinner at 7 p.m.; shelter closes at 7 a.m.

St. Mark’s Lutheran
1111 O’Farrell Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Available starting Monday, Jan. 23 through Sunday, Feb. 12

• Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.; shelter closes at 7 a.m.

First Unitarian Church
1187 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Available starting Monday, Feb. 13 through Thursday, March 2

• Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.; shelter closes at 7 a.m.

Canon Kip Senior Center
705 Natoma Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Available starting Friday, March 3 through Sunday, March 26

• Doors open at 6 p.m.; dinner at 7 p.m.; shelter closes at 7 a.m.

Public libraries around San Francisco are also available as warming centers. Find a branch of the San Francisco Public Library near you.

Shelters in Alameda County

Omni Commons Emergency Shelter
4799 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609

• Open until 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
• Space can accommodate 30 to 40 people on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Intake is 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Individuals can stay at the shelter overnight.
• Omni says the organization is currently prioritizing families, women and people who identify as LGBTQ+.

St. Vincent de Paul
675 23rd Street, West Oakland, CA 94612

• Open 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
• Shelter beds can be secured through referral, reservation and walk-up on a first-come, first-served basis during the hours above.
• Contact St. Vincent de Paul directly by phone: (510) 638-7600.

Livermore Warming Center, Veterans Memorial Building
522 S. L Street, Livermore, CA 94550

• Open 6 p.m.–8 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Shelter is open through April 30, when there's an expected forecast of overnight temperatures at or below 45 degrees and/or a 20% or higher chance of rain.
• Open to anyone; expected to accommodate 15–20 people each evening.

South Hayward Parish
27287 Patrick Avenue, Hayward, CA 94544

• Open 6:30 p.m.–7 a.m., 7 days a week
• Shelter usually has capacity of 18 people per night, and preregistration is required by calling (510) 634-2229.

In Hayward, community members living unsheltered or displaced due to flooding and other storm effects — or aware of someone in need of assistance — may contact the City of Hayward Emergency Operations Center by phone at (510) 583-2182.

Local service providers also are requesting donations of pocket warmers, ponchos, umbrellas, plastic and rubber shoe covers, and raincoats. Please direct donations to Bay Area Community Services (590 B Street, Hayward, CA 94541), open until 4:30 p.m. Monday–Friday.

Shelters in Santa Clara County

Seven Trees Community Center (Red Cross)
3590 Cas Drive, San José, CA 95111

Camden Community Center (Red Cross)
3369 Union Avenue, San José, CA 95124

San Martins Lions Club (Red Cross)
12415 Murphy Avenue, San Martin, CA 95046

For shelter placements, Santa Clara's Office of Supportive Housing asks that you contact the county's "Here4You Hotline" at (408) 385-2400, staffed 9 a.m.–7 p.m., 7 days a week.

The following shelters can't accept families with children:

City Team – Rescue Mission (for men)
1174 Old Bayshore Highway, San José, CA 95112

• Call (408) 288-2153.
• Intake begins 5:30 p.m., first-come, first-served.

HomeFirst – Boccardo Reception Center
2011 Little Orchard Street, San José, CA 95125

• Call (408) 294-2100.
• Intake begins 3:30 p.m., first-come, first-served.

LifeMoves – Georgia Travis House (for women)
260 Commercial St, San José, CA 95112

• Call (408) 271-1630 for more information.

LifeMoves – Montgomery Street Inn (for men)
358 North Montgomery Street, San José, CA 95110

• Call (408) 271-5160.
• Program assessments Monday through Friday at 12:30 p.m.

Salvation Army – Emmanuel House (for men)
405 North Fourth Street, San José, CA 95112

• Call (408) 282-1175.
• Suggested arrival time is between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

HomeFirst - Veterans Services
2011 Little Orchard Street, San José, CA 95125

• Call (408) 510-7522.
• Beds for veterans are on a first-come, first-served basis; check in at 3:30 p.m.

Shelters in Sonoma County

Sonoma County Fairgrounds, Kraft Hall (Red Cross)
1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95404

West County Community Services, Guerneville Veteran's Building
16255 First St., Guerneville, CA 95446

• Contact this shelter by phone at (707) 823-1640.

Social Advocates for Youth
Dream Center at Santa Rosa Junior College, 2447 Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa, CA 95405

• A nightly shelter reserved for youth ages 18–24 to escape the cold temperatures, open through March 31.
• Call the crisis line before 5 p.m. (888-729-0012) to reserve a spot or drop in at Coffee House Teen Shelter at 1243 Ripley St., Santa Rosa, CA 95401 before 5 p.m. to reserve a spot.
• After reserving a spot, youth must arrive at Coffee House Teen Shelter from 6 p.m.–7 p.m. for transportation to Dream Center.

Homeless Action Sonoma (HAS) Navigation Center and Warming Station
867 West Napa Street, CA 95476 (site of the former Community Café)

• Open 2 p.m.–10 a.m. 7 days a week

Shelters in Contra Costa County

County officials say that anyone needing assistance with getting placed in a shelter should call the Contra Costa Crisis Center directly at 211.

Concord Service Center Overnight Warming Center
2047 Arnold Industrial Way, Suite A, Concord, CA 94520

Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP)
165 22nd St., Richmond, CA 94801

Trinity Center Winter Program
1888 Trinity Ave., Walnut Creek, CA 94596

Delta Landing
2101 Loveridge Rd., Pittsburg, CA 94565

Bay Area Rescue Mission
200 Macdonald Ave., Richmond, CA 94801

Contra Costa County says its outreach teams are in need of sleeping bags, gloves and beanies, tarps and blankets (in order of importance). Donations can be dropped off at 2400 Bisso Lane, Suite D, Concord.

Shelters in San Mateo County

San Mateo County Event Center (Red Cross)
1346 Saratoga Drive, San Mateo, CA 94403

• Open 24/7

Pescadero High School (Red Cross)
360 Butano Cutoff, Pescadero, CA 94060

• Please note: This location is currently operating only as a temporary evacuation point (TEP) for people to charge their phone, use the internet, get a snack and get information on services and resources.

Shelters in Santa Cruz County

Salvation Army Watsonville (Red Cross)
214 Union Street, Watsonville, CA 95076

Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, JJ Crosetti Building (Red Cross)
2601 E. Lake Avenue, Watsonville, CA 95076

Cabrillo College
6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003

Jade Street Community Center
4400 Jade St., Capitola, CA 95010

KQED's Carly Severn contributed to this story.