The city of Dallas started gearing up for winter weather to move through North Texas last week. Notifications were posted online keeping residents up to date on city services and safety measures.
Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions activated an inclement weather shelter Friday at Fair Park in South Dallas at 3 p.m. By 4 p.m. people had lined up in anticipation of frigid temperatures. The city said the shelter would remain open until inclement weather ends, based on reports from NOAA, and per Chapter 45 of the City Code.
By Sunday, the shelter at Fair Park had reached capacity. The city of Dallas then moved to open two additional shelters to meet the growing need. Oak Lawn United Methodist Church opened at 3014 Oak Lawn Avenue with a capacity of 80. Austin Street Center's former facility also opened at 2929 Hickory Street with a capacity of roughly 360. As of Monday night, all three shelters remained open.
Using OurCalling's contact system, text messages were sent to unhoused men and women letting them know the shelters were open. Shuttle services were also provided.
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Pastor Wayne Walker is the CEO of OurCalling. He’s worked with the homeless community for twenty years. He said inclement weather plans are made several months in advance to put into motion at a moment’s notice.
“We have to have resources stocked, we have to have inventory ready, we have to have cots at the ready and all the volunteers ready to jump on when we say go,” Walker said.
By Monday morning, between all three shelters, more than 1,100 people had been assisted overnight with a warm place to stay, clothing and a hot meal. The shelters have a come-and-go policy for people choosing to leave and return at nightfall.
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Austin Street Center's CEO Daniel Roby weighed in.
"This is critical because we’re actually saving lives. Every single person that comes in our doors would likely experience frostbite or even potentially freeze to death outside," Roby said. "We want to make sure people are safe and I think we can agree that people should have access to their basic needs like food and shelter."
On Monday morning, the city of Dallas held an online briefing with updates from each department director, including a logistics rundown from the office of Homeless Solutions.
"In order to get people to shelter you can call 311. That will immediately signal people to come out and pick people up until 9 p.m. And then 911 goes to Dallas Fire Rescue to pick people up," said the director of the Office of Homeless Solutions.
NBC 5 spoke to a man outside of the warming center at Fair Park. He said he was unhoused and needed a warm place for the next few days. He goes by the name Hollywood.
“Just jumped in the van. It’s cold outside. Had to get here early because a lot of people are going to be here today,” he said.
He said he wanted to get in line before the worst of the weather arrived, knowing what it’s like to sleep in subfreezing temperatures.
“It hurts. A lot of pain and you can’t sleep,” he said.
The city also published a news release for those depending on public transportation. DART teams are in place across the region to ensure regular service is not impacted during the weather event. Bus and train station parking lots and walkways are being treated as well.
TxDOT crews began treating roads throughout seven counties in what’s known as its Dallas District. 100 trucks and some 500 crew members spent 30 hours putting down an initial brine layer.
Walker said it all boils down to the community working together to keep people safe.
Dallas’s Temporary Inclement Weather Shelter will intake hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
For more information visit https://dallashomelesssolutions.com/street-outreach/inclement-weather-activation/
