AUSTIN, Texas — With temperatures expected to remain in the mid-30s late Sunday night, the City of Austin Homeless Strategies and Operations (AHSO) has extended the overnight Cold Weather Shelters (CWS) through Sunday, January 18, for those in need of a safe, warm place to stay. Families with children and unaccompanied minors will be provided hotel lodging during activation periods.
Registration for the shelters will take place between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sunday at One Texas Center (OTC), 505 Barton Springs Road, which will serve as the central embarkation point for individuals seeking overnight shelter, according to a press release from AHSO. The organization will also utilize its text alert system to notify nearly 5,000 subscribers about the cold weather shelter activation and is urging community partners to spread awareness among Austin’s unsheltered population.
AHSO monitors weather conditions closely and activates CWS when overnight temperatures at the National Weather Service’s Camp Mabry location are forecasted to reach 35 degrees or below. The decision to activate is made up to one day in advance and no later than 9 a.m. on the day shelter could be available.
CapMetro will transport CWS clients from OTC to a shelter location, and an after-hours embarkation service will be available for those needing transportation outside the embarkation period. The specific locations of CWS are not publicized for operational and safety reasons, stated the source.
While primarily for those experiencing homelessness, CWS are open to anyone needing a warm place to spend the night. Information on access and activation can be obtained by calling the CWS Infoline at 512-972-5055. Guests are allowed to bring belongings that they can carry onto a CapMetro bus, and pets are permitted if they are non-aggressive and on a leash. Meals will be provided, and couples can stay at the same shelter, though there are separate sleeping areas for men and women.
The public is encouraged to follow AustinTexas.gov/Alerts for emergency information updated in multiple languages. For more information on homelessness in Austin, visit www.austintexas.gov/homelessness.