COEUR d’ALENE — With temperatures dropping and snow in the forecast, St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho has opened its warming shelter in Post Falls.

“We're trying to take care of our local homeless,” said Larry Riley, executive director.

The National Weather Service issued the season’s first winter weather advisory for 4 p.m. Thursday to 10 this morning.

“The first valley snow of the season is expected for many areas of northern Washington into the Idaho Panhandle from late this afternoon into Friday morning,” NWS reported.

Temperatures are expected to drop into the low 30s and 20s at night this week and next.

The arrival of frigid conditions sent 10 people to the St. Vincent shelter on Tuesday, the first night it opened.

“Homeless people living in their cars during warm months will drive to the warming shelter to get in out of the cold,” Riley said. "Cars turn into ice boxes in the winter."

In general, the shelter at 210 W. Seltice Way, converted from St. Vincent’s thrift store, will open if the forecast is for 28 degrees or less, or heavy snowfall.

Idaho has more than 2,000 homeless each night, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Kootenai County has an estimated 400 homeless.

Last year, the Post Falls shelter served hundreds. It offers separate female and male quarters, with six bunks to sleep 12 women and 12 bunks to sleep 24 men.

The shelter, open 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., is a lean operation. It offers the basics: a shared indoor bathroom and two sinks with hot and cold water. It has tables, chairs and two TVs.

It doesn’t provide food, but visitors can bring their own.

“It's nothing fancy, but is a huge improvement from the past 10 years and could only happen because of big hearts and donated dollars,” Riley said.

A newly acquired 12-passenger van will help with transporting people to the Post Falls shelter.

Those coming to the shelter are screened for COVID-19 and masks are required indoors. A COVID-19 symptomatic person is separated in the old basement shelter and then moved to a motel for isolation.

Financial contributions are the best way to help St. Vincent’s serve the homeless. It expects to be open about 80 nights this winter.

“All dollars donated go directly toward shelter costs,” Riley said.