North Austin News

With temperatures expected to drop into the mid-30s early Saturday morning, the City of Austin will open its Cold Weather Shelters (CWS) on Friday night, December 20. The city has set up a registration process for those seeking shelter between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC), located at 505 Barton Springs Road.

The city's Homeless Strategy Office is responsible for deciding when to activate these shelters, typically making the decision up to one day in advance but no later than 9 a.m. each day. The activation occurs when forecasted overnight temperatures at Camp Mabry are predicted to fall to 35 degrees or below.

"Registration for shelter occurs between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC), 505 Barton Springs Road," according to the city's announcement. Several bus routes serve this location, including lines: 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105, 142, and 801. CapMetro collaborates with the city to provide transportation from OTC to designated shelter locations.

Cold Weather Shelters are primarily intended for individuals experiencing homelessness but are available to anyone needing a warm place overnight. For information about access and activation details, individuals can contact the CWS Hotline at "512-972-5055."

"The City does not list the locations for various reasons," such as managing capacity limits and privacy concerns; however, they do publicize the embarkation point's location.

For further emergency updates in multiple languages, residents are encouraged to visit AustinTexas.gov/Alerts.