BEND, OR -- Snow is expected to return to the High Desert as early as Friday morning, and the city of Bend is working to make sure those without permanent housing will have a warm place to sleep, this winter. City Manager Eric King told City Councilors at Wednesday night’s meeting, "I will be declaring an emergency – weather emergency that allows for temporary shelters to be opened, later this week." That declaration is expected to be made Friday. "We’ll come back to Council at the next Council meeting for you all to ratify that," King told Councilors.

In the past, declarations have specified that temporary shelters are allowed to open when temperatures dip below 25-degrees, and only in approved locations. King said Wednesday, "There will be some information coming out later this week about what’s the process to get certified. Traditionally, it’s been churches that have stepped up, but there’s other organizations that can offer assistance to those needing to get out of the cold and offer up their place for shelter, as long as they meet basic safety requirements."