The City of Dallas has opened two additional inclement weather shelters for people experiencing homelessness as North Texas sees freezing temperatures and snowfall.
The City posted an alert for volunteer opportunities at Austin Street Center II at 2929 Hickory St. and Oak Lawn United Methodist Church at 3014 Oak Lawn Ave.
These additional shelters were opened after the shelter at Fair Park reached capacity, as reported by Fox 4 KDFW. There is reportedly room for 360 people at Austin Street and 80 at Oak Lawn UMC.
Anticipating freezing temperatures, the Office of Homeless Solutions activated a Temporary Inclement Weather Shelter at Fair Park on January 12.
“Inclement Weather Shelters are a priority for the City of Dallas,” said Deputy City Manager Kimberly Tolbert in a news release. “They provide a safe and warm environment for our unsheltered neighbors, giving them access to food and water and an opportunity to connect with organizations that can provide short and long-term supportive housing.”
The City instituted a new Temporary Inclement Weather Shelter plan last winter, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Tolbert added that the sheltering effort “is a collaborative process that could not be achieved without non-profits across Dallas who are dedicated to ending homelessness.”
As previously covered by The Dallas Express, surveys have shown that City residents continue to be frustrated with homelessness, vagrancy, and panhandling throughout Dallas.
The “one-stop-shop” model utilized by Haven for Hope in San Antonio has proven successful, credited with a 77% reduction in homelessness in the city’s downtown area.
This model has polled favorably among Dallas residents, and some local stakeholders are aiming to bring the model to the City. However, it remains to be seen whether local governments, including the City of Dallas, will support this effort.
