City Of Austin | City Of Austin website
City Of Austin | City Of Austin website
AUSTIN, Texas - The City of Austin has announced that it will be opening overnight cold weather shelters on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Registration for the shelters will take place between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC), located at 505 Barton Springs Road. This location will serve as the central embarkation point for individuals seeking a warm place to spend the night.
To ensure that the information reaches those who need it most, the City has shared its plans with community partners who work directly with Austin's unsheltered population. Additionally, the City has implemented a text alert system, through which it sends information directly to unsheltered individuals who are registered.
The decision to activate the cold weather shelters is made by the Homeless Strategy Office, no later than 9 a.m. each day. The office relies on projections from the National Weather Service (NWS) for the Camp Mabry Location. These projections, which can be accessed on the NWS website, indicate whether the temperature is expected to be 32 degrees or colder overnight, 35 degrees or colder overnight with precipitation, or 35 degrees or colder overnight with a wind chill of 32 or colder.
In order to access a cold weather shelter, individuals must register between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center. Transportation to the shelter location is provided by CapMetro, in partnership with the City. Bus routes to OTC include lines 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105, 142, and 801. Those who do not have the means to pay the fare will still be given a ride.
While these shelters are primarily intended for people experiencing homelessness, they are available to anyone in need of a warm place to spend the night. Information about access and activation can be obtained by calling the Cold Weather Shelter Hotline at 512-972-5055.
The City understands the importance of providing guidance to the guests of the cold weather shelters. Therefore, guidance materials are available for those seeking shelter.
Due to various reasons, such as managing capacity limits and privacy concerns, the City does not publicly disclose the specific locations of the shelters. However, the embarkation point, OTC at 505 Barton Springs Road, is being publicized to ensure that individuals know where to go.
Residents are encouraged to stay informed about emergency information by following austintexas.gov/alerts. This website provides updates in multiple languages to ensure that everyone is able to access the necessary information.
In times of freezing temperatures, it is crucial to provide a safe and warm environment for those in need. The City of Austin is taking proactive measures by activating the cold weather shelters, ensuring that individuals have a place to seek refuge from the cold.
For additional details, please follow this link: https://www.austintexas.gov/news/city-austin-activates-cold-weather-shelters-tuesday-jan-9
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