(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the DC Department of Human Services (DHS), in collaboration with the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), will activate a Cold Weather Emergency today, Monday, December 12 at 7 pm.
Under a Cold Weather Emergency, the District provides additional services and supports to protect residents from life-threatening illness and injuries associated with severe cold weather. To request transportation to shelter for persons in DC who are experiencing homelessness, contact the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or by calling 311. When calling the hotline, please include the time, the address or location of the sighting, and a description of the person’s appearance. Please call 911 if it appears there is an immediately risk to an individual’s safety.
All Washingtonians are encouraged to check on neighbors, especially unsheltered residents, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations, to ensure they are taking proper precautions ahead of the expected cold weather conditions.
Cold Weather Emergencies occur when the National Weather Service forecasts weather that presents a danger to residents, especially those who are outdoors and experiencing homelessness. Alerts are triggered by either a combination of temperature and wind chill at 15° F or below, or a combination of temperature and wind chill at 20° F or below along with an accompanying weather event such as snow.
Residents are encouraged to register for important weather alerts from the District by signing up for AlertDC at alert dc. You can also receive alerts by following the AlertDC Twitter feed.
Key services provided during Cold Weather Emergencies include:
Access to Emergency Shelter— Shelters that accept individuals and families in need are open, along with designated hypothermia overflow sites.
Access to Overnight Warming Sites — Designated public buildings may open overnight and during the day tomorrow in the event that the alert remains activated. Individuals can 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 Weather Emergency. To request transportation to shelter for persons in DC who are experiencing homelessness, contact the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or by calling 311.
Families seeking emergency shelter can call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 311 at any time day or night.
The following shelter locations are open:
Shelters for Women
- Adams Place Day Center at 2210 Adams Place NE
- Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) at 425 2nd Street NW
- Sherwood Recreation Center at 640 10th Street NE
- Harriet Tubman Shelter at 1900 Massachusetts Avenue SE #27
- St. Josephine Bahkita at 6010 Georgia Avenue NW
- Patricia Handy Place for Women at 1009 11th Street NW
Shelters for Men
- Community for Creative Non-Violence (CCNV) at 425 2nd Street NW
- Church of Epiphany at 1317 G Street NW
- Salvation Army at 3335 Sherman Avenue NW
- 801 East Shelter at 2722 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE
- Adams Place Shelter at 2210 Adams Place NE
- New York Avenue Shelter at 1355-57 New York Avenue NE
- Patricia Handy Legacy at 810 5th Street NW
- Trinidad Recreation Center at 1310 Childress Street SE
Shelter for LGBTQ+
- Living Life Alternative at 400 50th Street SE
Social Media:
Mayor Bowser Twitter: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser
Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos