With temperatures expected to drop into the mid-30s overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, the City of Austin will open Cold Weather Shelters (CWS) on the night of December 10, 2024. The city staff will monitor weather conditions to decide if the shelters need to remain open for another night.
Registration for shelter is scheduled for Tuesday between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC), located at 505 Barton Springs Road. This site will serve as the central point for individuals seeking overnight accommodation.
The city works with community partners who communicate directly with Austin's unsheltered population through a text alert system launched by the city. The Homeless Strategy Office decides when to activate these shelters up to one day in advance, but no later than 9 a.m. each day. Activation occurs when overnight temperatures at Camp Mabry are forecasted to fall to 35 degrees or below.
To access a Cold Weather Shelter, individuals must register between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at OTC. Bus routes serving this location include lines: 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105, 142, and 801. CapMetro collaborates with the city to provide transportation from OTC to shelter locations without requiring fare payment for those unable to afford it. An after-hours service is available for those needing transport outside regular registration hours.
Cold Weather Shelters primarily serve people experiencing homelessness but are open to anyone needing warmth overnight. Information about access and activation can be obtained by calling the CWS Hotline at 512-972-5055.
For privacy and capacity management reasons, specific shelter locations are not disclosed publicly; however, details about the embarkation point at OTC are shared openly.
Residents are encouraged to visit AustinTexas.gov/Alerts for emergency updates available in multiple languages.
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