Texas temperatures have drastically changed from the warm weather around Christmas. Over the weekend, temperatures plunged from the 70s to the 20s, and homeless shelters in Dallas have seen an increase in volume.
Wayne Walker, CEO and Pastor of homeless solutions group Our Calling, told Fox 4 News, “So we’re seeing many more people than we expected, but as long as the Cowboys are playing, we’re having a great time watching them [on TV]. Guys are eating hot food and enjoying their time together.”
Walker noted that “every homeless shelter in the city of Dallas is at capacity.” Currently, while temperatures are at a freezing low, the shelter is operating overnight.
Several other groups are making an effort to assist those in North Texas without shelter. On Saturday, Sr. Pastor Rachel Baughman, at Oak Lawn United Methodist Church, made room for 30 people.
She was grateful that they could help. “To have the opportunity to be inside on a night like tonight is very important,” Baughman said.
Baughman is still practicing safe protocol for COVID-19; everyone who enters takes a test, and those who test positive are sheltered in a secluded area.
Union Gospel Mission, or UGM Dallas, is offering a place for the homeless to shelter at 3211 Irving Boulevard. The group requests donations for food, supplies, blankets, and coats.
In Fort Worth, the EMS company, Medstar said five people were sent to the hospital on Saturday due to the freezing temperatures. Matt Zavadsky, with the organization, said, “These were people who were suffering hypothermia, either mild or moderate hypothermia.”
With the freezing weather remaining for many more upcoming days, groups will continue to open their doors to help individuals with no place to go.
Walker has asked the city to open another place to assist with overflow. “[Sunday night] we will exceed our capacity and that’s why we’ve asked the city to open up an alternative overflow site and so we’ll be sending people over there.”
