Austin is streamlining its process for activating cold weather shelters, as outlined in a city memo. The city’s Homeless Strategy Office (HSO) will now trigger shelter openings when overnight temperatures are forecasted to drop to 35 degrees or lower. This replaces the previous “multi-tiered activation system,” which varied shelter activation based on different temperature thresholds.
The new activation threshold is designed to make the process easier to understand and more responsive to cold weather cycles. The city will now notify the public at least one day in advance of the shelter openings, as opposed to the previous practice of providing shorter notice.
The city emphasized that once cold weather shelters are activated, the decision is final and will not be reversed, even if the weather forecast improves.
Additionally, the city plans to launch an after-hours service this year to assist individuals who are unable to register for shelter before the regular 8 p.m. deadline. Those who use the shelters will be provided with dinner, and breakfast or snacks the following morning. Families with children will receive hotel accommodation vouchers to ensure they have a safe place to stay.
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