As temperatures are expected to fall sharply and encroach the mid-30s late Friday evening, Austin city officials will be opening up their Cold Weather Shelters (CWS) to accommodate individuals in need of a warm refuge from the chilly conditions of the night, according to an official statement from the City of Austin. The city, determined to protect those without shelter from the biting cold, is activating its facilities for the night of Friday, Dec. 20, in response to unpredictable and frigid forecasts.
For those requiring temporary shelter, registration will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at one central location, the One Texas Center (OTC), located at 505 Barton Springs Road, as detailed by the City of Austin. Texts with details about the CWS will be sent directly to individuals already signed up with the City's launched text alert system, a lifeline in times of sinking temperatures. These efforts are made in collaboration with community partners actively engaged with Austin's unsheltered population.
Moreover, the cold weather shelters extend their walls to not only the homeless but to anyone who's left vulnerably peering into the frosty embrace of a vacant night sky. The CWS Hotline at 512-972-5055 stands as an avenue for information on access and shelter activation and also meals, storage for belongings, and accommodations for pets on leashes are provided, which means guests can focus on warmth and safety above all else. Special consideration is given to women, couples, and families with children, including the provision of hotel vouchers for families with children and unaccompanied minors during these cold snaps, as per the City of Austin.
To reinforce the shelters' integrity and manage capacities, their locations are undisclosed, but the City makes no secret of OTC's role as the embarkation point at 505 Barton Springs Rd. The public is encouraged to stay informed through AustinTexas.gov/Alerts.
