Austin cold weather shelters open Saturday night
The City of Austin said it would continue to operate its cold weather shelter services Saturday night.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The City of Austin said it would continue to operate its cold weather shelter services Saturday night.
If someone needs a warm place to stay, shelter registration is from 6 to 8 p.m. at One Texas Center, located at 505 Barton Springs Road in Austin. Transportation is available for free to those who need it.
CapMetro wrote on social media that the bus routes to One Texas Center include routes 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105, 142 and 801. The transit authority stressed that if people seeking a cold-weather shelter do not have the means to pay the fare, they will still be given a ride.
Local officials added if anyone needs help getting to one of the shelters after 8 p.m., they should either call 311 or 512-974-2000 to receive assistance.
The city said all libraries and parks facilities would remain available during regular business hours to serve as Warming Centers to offer temporary relief from the cold.
After five days of extreme temperatures, the City of Austin, Travis County and community members are beginning the recovery stage.
Previous extensions for the shelters came after a record number of people utilized the city's shelter services.
"Starting January 13, through January 17, City shelters housed and fed 209, 404, 659, 590 and 405 people per night for a total of 2,267 people served at 7 shelters over 5 days, a record number," the city said.
As of Tuesday morning, city leaders said Austin had opened its seventh shelter Monday morning and had additional capacity to offer shelter at other facilities. Interim City Manager Jesús Garza credited the substantial number of shelter stays with improved efforts to communicate cold weather resources with the city's unhoused population.
The city has been using text messages to help inform people who are unhoused of available cold weather shelters, in addition to partner organizations relaying information in person at campsites, Garza added.
“Please check on your neighbors and family who may need assistance even after the storm,” Garza said. “Stay safe. Stay warm. This is the first winter storm of the season and more winter weather is forecasted. Building a prepared and more resilient community together will make it easier for us all to respond to the next storm.”