As winter grips Arlington with icy fingers, the city will offer homeless individuals a shield against the chilling temperatures. From yesterday through Saturday, those without a place to call home can find refuge in designated emergency cold weather shelters. According to an announcement by the City of Arlington, this life-saving initiative kicks in when the mercury dips to 39 degrees or below for four hours overnight.
The Arlington Life Shelter and The Salvation Army are at the heart of this effort, opening their doors wider to ensure no one is left in the cold. At the Arlington Life Shelter, 325 W. Division St., intakes run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., welcoming guests through the east side entrance. An ID is a necessary formality for entry, though the authorities make an exception for police drop-offs. The shelter's contact number is 817-548-9885 ext. 3312 for anyone with questions. Over at The Salvation Army at 712 W. Abram St., intakes begin at 7 p.m. and close at 10 p.m. Again, IDs are required unless the Arlington Police Department does after-hours drop-offs.
All Arlington Library locations are open during standard operating hours for those needing a warm space. The George W. Hawkes Downtown Library is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with adjusted weekend hours. Other libraries, including the Ron Wright Lake Arlington Branch, Northeast Branch, Southeast Branch, Southwest Branch, and Woodland West, adhere to a slightly different schedule, detailed in the city's announcement.
Pet owners facing homelessness aren't overlooked, as the Arlington Animal Services Shelter accepts pets as capacity allows. Located at 1000 SE Green Oaks Blvd, the shelter provides a phone number, 817-459-5898, for further inquiries. Arlington offers a text subscription service for up-to-the-minute updates on the inclement weather shelters, inviting residents to text ARLCOLD to 877-799-4950 for alerts.
