City adds beds to cold weather shelters as turnout exceeds original plans
Austin (KXAN) — The City of Austin's Homeless Strategy Office said the layout of its cold weather shelters was adjusted this week to accommodate a higher turnout of people needing shelter than initially anticipated.
Greg McCormack, HSO program manager, said the shelters are facilitated through several city departments and the Austin Area Urban League.
He said the goal this week is to ensure that anyone in need of somewhere safe to stay is not turned away from shelters.
McCormack stressed that freezing conditions can be extremely dangerous, even deadly, for those without shelter.
A presentation at a Public Safety Commission this week gave an update on the city's winter weather response plans. The presentation noted that in the event of freezing weather, the city could shelter 300 people.
As of Wednesday, an update from the city's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Office said 340 people stayed overnight at the city's three shelters.
McCormack said the recreation centers that house the shelters had enough extra space to add the number of beds needed, and that shelters were not experiencing overcrowding.
Last November, the city simplified the activation process, allowing shelters to open when temperatures were forecast to dip below 35 degrees, instead of the previous requirement of 32 degrees.
McCormack said the high turnout could have been a result of the city changing when it activates shelters and notifies the public about them.
"Many of them were thankful of being able to know a day in advance, or for this week, even a week in advance, so that they could plan to be able to come in and know that they would be safe overnight," McCormack said.
McCormack said the shelters have stayed flexible in their operations. Guests were allowed to stay through the day Thursday because of the freezing rain.
He said operations remain flexible with the potential to extend shelter activation and open a fourth shelter if needed.