DC’s Cold Weather Emergency Activated for Tonight

Photo by PoPville flickr user brunofish

From Department of Human Services:

The Department of Human Services (DHS) in collaboration with the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) will activate the city’s Cold Emergency Plan due to severe cold weather on Monday, January 4, 2016 through the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Under a “Cold Emergency Alert” additional services and supports are put in place to protect residents from life-threatening illness and injury associated with severe cold weather. The Cold Emergency Alert Plan is part of the “2015 – 2016 Winter Plan” developed by the DC Interagency Council on Homelessness.
 
WHEN:
Monday, January 4, 2016—Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Key services provided during Cold Emergency Alerts include:

Access to Emergency Shelter—Low-barrier, Hypothermia, and Overflow emergency shelters are open during Hypothermia and Cold Alerts.

Access to Overnight Warming Sites—In order to provide access to a warm and safe facility, designated public buildings, such as recreation centers, may open during the day or overnight. In cases where residents choose not to use the traditional low-barrier or hypothermia emergency shelters, these warming sites offer a warm and safe place to spend the night. Individuals may access these sites on their own or by contacting the Shelter Hotline for transportation.

Transportation to Warmth and Safety—Free transportation to an emergency shelter or warming site is provided to anyone experiencing homelessness in the District during a Cold Emergency Alert. To request transportation to shelter for persons in DC who are experiencing homelessness, contact the toll-free Shelter Hotline: 1-800-535-7252 or 311. Include the time, the address or location of the sighting, and a description of the person’s appearance.

Families seeking emergency shelter can also visit the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center at 920 Rhode Island Avenue, NE, Monday – Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Families can also call the DC Shelter Hotline at 800.535.7252 or 311 at any time day or night.

BACKGROUND:
The District activates the Cold Emergency plan when the temperature and wind chill drop to 15° F or when the temperature, with wind chill, is 20° F and there is an accompanying meteorological event such as snow. DHS, HSEMA and other agencies have determined that the weather as forecast presents a danger, especially to residents who are experiencing homelessness.

The following are low barrier and alert night emergency shelters and warming site locations:

Cold Emergency Warming Sites
-Sherwood Recreation Center: 640 10th Street, NE (Women only)
-Emery Recreation Center: 5801 Georgia Avenue, NW (Co-ed)

Hypothermia/Cold Emergency Alert Night Shelters
Hypothermia/Cold Emergency Alert Night Shelters for Women
-New Covenant Baptist Church: 1301 W Street, SE
-Community of Christ Church: 3526 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Hypothermia/Cold Emergency Alert Night Shelters for Men
-Banneker Recreation Center: 2500 Georgia Avenue, NW
-Raymond Recreation Center: 3725 10th Street, NW
-Kennedy Recreation Center: 1401 7th Street, NW
-Sacred Heart Church: 16th Street and Park Road, NW

Low-Barrier Emergency Shelters
Low-barrier Emergency Shelters for Women
- Harriet Tubman Shelter:  DC General Building 9, 1900 Massachusetts Avenue, SE
- John Young Shelter:  117 D Street, NW 
- Nativity Shelter: 6010 Georgia Avenue, NW
- Open Door Shelter:  425 2nd Street, NW  (at E Street)

Low-barrier Emergency Shelters for Men
- 801 East Shelter:  801 Making Life Better Lane, SE
- Adams Place Shelter:  2210 Adams Place, NE 
- New York Avenue Shelter:  1355-57 New York Avenue, NE”