North Texas residents are preparing for an extremely cold weekend, and local authorities are opening warming shelters to provide refuge from the anticipated severe weather. The National Weather Service’s Fort Worth office has issued both a winter storm watch and an extreme cold watch, prompting Governor Greg Abbott to activate state emergency response resources.
Dallas
The city of Dallas’ primary temporary overnight shelter will open at 4 p.m. on Friday at Fair Park’s Automobile Building, located at 3809 Grand Ave. The shelter will be operated in partnership with the city by the Austin Street Center and OurCalling, organizations dedicated to serving people experiencing homelessness.
The shelter is prepared to accommodate approximately 1,300 individuals and will remain open as long as nighttime temperatures remain at or below freezing. If capacity is reached, city officials have indicated plans to open additional locations.
OurCalling will provide warm meals, healthy snacks, blankets, and coats to those seeking shelter. According to Wayne Walker, CEO and pastor of OurCalling, individuals experiencing homelessness can be reported to the organization via the OurCalling app, and outreach teams will attempt to locate them, particularly those in vulnerable locations.
The Bridge
The Bridge, a homeless shelter in downtown Dallas, currently has space for nearly 400 guests, with additional overflow capacity. When full, The Bridge will coordinate transportation to temporary shelters. The shelter, located at 1818 Corsicana St., operates from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and provides access to shelter, meals, and supportive services. Outreach staff have been distributing cold-weather items and informing individuals about available resources.
The Salvation Army of North Texas
“The shelters are designed really to help people get in out of the cold. So it could be those who don’t have a home or a family,” said Christina Cavalier, managing director at The Salvation Army of North Texas.
Salvation Army locations across Dallas, Tarrant, and Collin counties will open their doors to serve the community both during the day and overnight, beginning Friday and continuing through Sunday night, or as long as needed. Specific intake times and locations include:
- Dallas County: Carr P. Collins Social Service Center (5302 Harry Hines Blvd., intake starting Friday at 7 p.m.) and Garland Corps Community Center (451 W. Ave. D, intake starting Friday at 5:30 p.m.).
- Tarrant County: The Arlington Corps Community Center (712 W. Abram St., intake starting Friday at 8 p.m.) and The Mabee Social Service Center (1855 E. Lancaster Ave., intake starting Friday at 12 p.m.).
- Collin County: McKinney Corps Community Center (600 Wilson Creek Pkwy, intake starting Friday at 6 p.m.).
McKinney and Plano
In McKinney, the Emergency Overnight Warming Station at First McKinney Baptist Church (1615 W. Louisiana St.) will be open from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. from Thursday through Sunday. The Plano Overnight Warming Station, hosted at the East Plano Islamic Center (4700 14th St.), will be open Thursday through Monday, providing transportation from the Parker Road DART station, food, and shelter.
Denton County and Richardson
Multiple shelters will be open in Denton County, with some operating as daytime warming centers only. In Richardson, three 24-hour warming centers will open at 5 p.m. on Friday at the Richardson Police Department Administration Building (200 N. Greenville Ave), Richardson Fire Department Station 3 (500 W. Lookout Dr.), and Richardson Fire Department Station 6 (3591 Park Vista Rd.).
DeSoto
The city of DeSoto will open a 24-hour warming center at the DeSoto Recreation Center (211 E. Pleasant Run Road) beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday through Monday at 10 p.m. This location will serve as a temporary warming space only, and will not provide bedding or food.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the primary overnight shelter located in Dallas?
The city of Dallas’ primary temporary overnight shelter is located at Fair Park’s Automobile Building, 3809 Grand Ave.
What services will be provided at the shelters?
Shelters will provide a place to get out of the cold, and some, like OurCalling in Dallas, will offer warm meals, healthy snacks, blankets, and coats.
What should I do if I see someone experiencing homelessness who needs help?
If it’s an emergency, call 911. Otherwise, you can use the OurCalling app to report the location, and a team will attempt to reach them.
As temperatures plummet, will additional shelters be opened to meet the demand?
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