AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Austin is expecting to provide around 2,000 shelter beds for those seeking reprieve from this week’s cold snap, officials with the city of Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office told KXAN Friday.
Greg McCormack, program manager for Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office, said the overnight shelters experienced peak numbers throughout the week, with more than 400 people staying most evenings.
The city’s overnight shelters will again open Friday night as freezing temperatures and precipitation linger in the forecast.
McCormack said the warm weather only a couple of weeks ago “fooled” city staff a bit, with many questioning if they’d experience another cold front this season. As soon as the latest cold snap appeared in the forecast, he said staff began working on getting messaging out to all community members so no one would be left without shelter.
“This was a strong one, and we tried to get messaging out to everyone in the community that this one was extremely cold, very dangerous to try and sleep outside. We didn’t want anyone to sleep outside,” he said. “When this will be all said and done, we will have about 2,000 shelter beds provided during this time.”
In launching Friday’s overnight shelters, he said the temperature already meets the city’s shelter activation threshold, adding officials no longer look at rain or precipitation as they raised the threshold to 35 degrees. Those needing shelter Friday can register between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center, located at 505 Barton Springs Road.
Compared to previous winters, the city overhauled its cold weather shelter operations.
McCormack said communication chains in particular have improved tremendously, adding he fielded calls from several community churches in north Austin last night that had activated shelters and worked with those faith leaders on any assistance they might need.
“I think it’s really been improved,” he said. “I really appreciate everybody in the community and all the work that they do to help get word out and get people inside.”
Come this spring, McCormack said city departments are poised to group and talk through which cold weather shelter strategies worked and which areas could benefit from tweaks and improvements. He added city officials are seeking community feedback on what they’re seeing with shelter operations and enhancement opportunities that could be made.
More details on cold weather shelters, warming centers and other resources are available online.
