From Texas Tribune:
State officials are strongly discouraging unnecessary travel due to the hazardous conditions on the roads caused by the snow and ice. If you are in need of power and are able to travel, the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s website includes a list of warming centers across the state.
Texans can find more details about community resources and warming centers in their area by calling 877-541-7905 or 211, the state’s free 24-hour helpline. Information about specific local resources, assistance and guidance can also likely be found on local city government websites and social media accounts.
Houston:
Lakewood Church, the Gallery Furniture store and multiple other warming shelters have opened in the area. Accommodations vary by shelter, but most have blankets and other supplies for people in the Houston area seeking warmth. The George R. Brown Convention Center opened as a warming center, but it is at full capacity and it is no longer accepting more people, according to KHOU
Homeless outreach teams from the sheriff’s office, police department, and homeless outreach groups have worked to provide rides to the warming centers. Houston area residents can call the Harris County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 713-221-6000 or 311 for information about shelter or transportation.
The sheriff’s office Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) has been providing items like coats, blankets and tents to people experiencing homelessness who are not in a warming center. People can donate here to any of the organizations in The Way Home, a coalition of organizations working to prevent homelessness.
Austin:
Austin officials are encouraging individuals in need of shelter to go to the Palmer Event Center. Families should go to the Downtown Salvation Army Shelter. Officials have also opened three other shelters at Mendez Middle School, Northeast Early College High School and Del Valle High School. People with pets will not be turned away and they will be accommodated through Animal Services, according to Austin Emergency Management.
CapMetro suspended its regular services Tuesday, and the bus service anticipates that service will be impacted Wednesday as well. People who need transportation to a warming shelter can call 211, and they can call the cold weather shelter hotline at 512-305-ICEE for more information about warming shelters.
On Wednesday, Austin Mayor Steve Adler asked residents to conserve water. He also said the city is in need of volunteers and those who are interested in helping can fill out this form.
Various organizations in Austin are accepting donations to help people who need resources to help the homeless or those in need of resources. The Austin Area Urban League is organizing an emergency drive here and Front Steps, a nonprofit that offers resources to the homeless, is asking for blanket donations here.
San Antonio:
At least seven shelters are open in San Antonio, including Haven for Hope, the city’s largest shelter, which is offering cold weather clothing and beds, according to San Antonio Report. A resource list created by the Christian Assistance Ministry with details about shelters in San Antonio and specifics about accommodations can be found here.
Ministries and outreach teams are also looking for volunteers who can safely access the shelters. Outreach teams from SAMMinistries, Haven for Hope, Corazon Ministries and other organizations have been working to transport people to shelter, according to the South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless, or SARAH. SARAH is providing details about organizations seeking help on their Facebook page here.
The city of San Antonio’s homeless hotline, at 210-207-1799, is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The hotline will help people experiencing homeless find resources. If people need help outside of those hours, they can leave a voicemail or email homelessoutreach@sanantonio.gov.
DFW:
Dallas opened a warming center in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, where people will be provided with a chair, table and light snacks. The center is also hosting a homeless shelter for people experiencing homelessness with cots and blankets. Dallas is also working to identify more city resources, like recreation centers and libraries, to be used as warming centers.
Multiple Dallas-area organizations, including The Salvation Army, OurCalling and The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, are working to provide transportation to the convention center, food and tests for COVID-19, according to The Dallas Morning News. Donations can be made here to OurCalling, which is largely leading the shelter efforts.
Fort Worth has opened the Fort Worth Convention Center as an overnight shelter with cots. The city has also opened four warming centers from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, but they do not have snacks or cots available. People in Fort Worth can call the non-emergency line at 817-392-1234 for directions to one of the city’s warming centers and help seeking transportation. More details can be found here.
Rio Grande Valley:
Warming centers have opened across several cities in the Rio Grande Valley, including the Las Palmas Community Center in McAllen, Dustin Sekula Memorial Library in Edinburg, the Ozanam Center in Brownsville and Loaves & Fishes in Harlingen. The city of Mercedes has opened the Safety Dome Shelter "until further notice," according to a Facebook post. The shelters in the area recommending bringing any prescription medication, I.D., phone chargers and blankets.
The power outages have also left many people in the area without food. The Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley says residents in need of food can call 956-682-8101 and select option 2 for a referral to a nearby food pantry. The food bank has also launched a winter storm assistance campaign and anyone who wants to help can make a donation here.
Check out these guides on how to get help:
Houston:
DFW:
San Antonio:
Austin:
El Paso:
RGV:
Panhandle:
West Texas:
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