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City of Austin Activates Cold Weather Shelters Amid Freezing Temperatures

Shelter registration will take place between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC), located at 505 Barton Springs Road. The OTC will serve as the main embarkation point for individuals seeking overnight shelter.

Gary Emmert
1–2 minutes

Austin – The City of Austin is set to activate Cold Weather Shelters (CWS) overnight from Tuesday, February 18, through Thursday, February 20, as temperatures are expected to plunge into the low 30s and 20s.

The shelters will be accessible from Tuesday through Thursday to provide a warm haven for those in need.

Shelter registration will take place between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC), located at 505 Barton Springs Road. The OTC will serve as the main embarkation point for individuals seeking overnight shelter. The City is collaborating with community partners to disseminate information directly to Austin’s unsheltered population via a text alert system.

The Homeless Strategy Office assesses the need to activate cold weather shelters up to one day in advance, with decisions made no later than 9 a.m. each day. The shelters will open when forecasted overnight temperatures at Camp Mabry are expected to drop to 35 degrees or below.

How to Access a Cold Weather Shelter:

  • Registration occurs at OTC (505 Barton Springs Road) between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
  • Bus routes to OTC include lines: 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105, 142, and 801. Individuals without means to pay the fare will still receive a ride.
  • CapMetro, in partnership with the City, will transport individuals from OTC to shelter locations. An after-hours embarkation service will also be available for late arrivals.

Guest Guidelines:

  • Guests can bring their belongings if they can transport them to the OTC and onto a CapMetro Bus.
  • Pets are permitted if they are non-aggressive, on a leash, and can sleep with their owners. Crates will be provided if needed.
  • Meals will be available.
  • Women and couples may stay in the same shelter, but in separate areas as capacity allows.
  • Hotel vouchers will be provided to families with children and unaccompanied minors during activation periods.

The locations of the shelters are not publicized to manage capacity limits and privacy concerns. However, the OTC at 505 Barton Springs Rd. will be the central embarkation point.

The public is encouraged to stay updated on emergency information in multiple languages by visiting AustinTexas.gov/Alerts.

City staff will continue to monitor weather conditions to determine if CWS activation will extend beyond Thursday.

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