The Santa Clarita Valley Emergency Winter Shelter opens today and officials are bracing for a busy season as a down economy has left local families struggling to get by.

Other local aid agencies, such as Lutheran Social Services and the SCV Food Pantry, have seen demand jump this year by as much as 50 percent.

"I suspect the same will be true for us," said Tim Davis, the shelter's executive director.

The shelter has seen an increase the number of clients in recent years, especially families, officials said.

Last winter, the shelter saw 21 families, 33 adults and 43 children.

The shelter, which is open through March 15 every year, provides beds, food, clothing and social services to local people in need.

It opens at 6 p.m. every night and offers dinner, breakfast and a sack lunch for clients. Families with children are given a voucher that allows them to stay at a local motel.

Up to 45 men and women can stay at the shelter while another six families can use the voucher program.

As usual, the local community has stepped up to help the shelter as it enters its 13th season.

On Monday, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans hosted an open house for volunteers and shelter supporters who toured the buildings and met staff members.

The shelter has about 2,500 volunteers through the entire season, said Andy Pattantyus, vice president and board member for the Santa Clarita Community Development Corporation, the nonprofit organization which runs the shelter.

"The community has a big heart," he said.

Even before the shelter opened, local organizations signed up to prepare the roughly 14,000 meals the shelter provides in its 105 days of operation.

"The donations are coming in very nicely," Davis said.

The shelter keeps a wish list of items on its Web site, www.santaclaritashelter.com, along with ways to give cash donations.