The Office of Homeless Solutions opens temporary inclement weather shelters (TIWS) in response to frigid temperatures Wednesday night

DALLAS – The Office of Homeless Solutions has been monitoring the weather forecast and based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric forecast, has activated the opening of temporary inclement weather shelters (TIWS) in the City of Dallas for  Wednesday, February 23, 2022, and Thursday, February 24, 2022, and will continue to monitor the weather through Friday evening, February 25, 2022. An additional activation notice will be released no later than 12 p.m. the preceding day for each additional night of shelter needed through Friday, in accordance with Chapter 45 of the City Code.

Individuals experiencing homelessness are encouraged to seek shelter at any one of the City’s existing, overnight shelter provider locations. If those shelters are at capacity, guests can seek shelter at one of two, temporary inclement weather shelters – Oak Lawn United Methodist Church (UMC) and OurCalling.

Oak Lawn UMC is located at 3014 Oak Lawn Avenue (Council District 14) and OurCalling is located at 1702 S. Cesar Chavez Blvd. (Council District 2). Intake hours at both locations are 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Admission to Oak Lawn UMC closes at 9:00 p.m. Guests that arrive at Oak Lawn UMC after shelter intake hours will be directed to OurCalling which will remain open overnight.

Onsite rapid response COVID-19 testing will be available at both locations. Individuals who test positive will be isolated and transported to a third shelter. For the safety and security of staff and guests, the location is not being disclosed at this time. The COVID-19 quarantine shelter will remain open with guests encouraged to remain in isolation until their allotted quarantine period expires.

In partnership with Dallas County, OHS has established a quarantine shelter for homeless individuals who are Covid positive, admitted by referral through the local shelter providers and hospitals. We are extremely grateful for this partnership, which also includes North Texas Behavioral Health Authority (NTBHA), Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA), and Parkland Hospital. Due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant and the vulnerability of the unsheltered population, access to this shelter is limited to OHS and partnering staff.

For interviews on the city’s latest efforts to combat homelessness contact the communications, outreach and marketing department at [email protected].