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Several Dallas nonprofits say they worked with the city to get temporary shelter on Wednesday for more than 300 people experiencing homelessness as temperatures in North Texas are projected to reach a 30-year low.
But they are concerned the sustained harsh weather could be too strenuous without more support.
Around 350 people were placed in rooms at city-owned hotels, hotel rooms paid for by at least half a dozen nonprofits and church groups, and other spaces from service providers, the groups said.
During this cold snap, though, the city has no plans to open an emergency shelter and instead is pairing with providers to help the homeless.
The city has been working with local groups since late last year to provide hotel rooms for people without permanent shelter when temperatures are in the mid 30s and below. The groups say they expect demand to grow and continue to be in the hundreds as frigid temperatures continue in North Texas.
“This is normally something we typically do for one, two or three days at a time,” said Teresa Thomas, spokeswoman for Austin Street Center, which operates an emergency shelter in South Dallas. “Temperatures are not set to break until at least Wednesday, and so we’re just really trying to pull together our funds to be able to keep this initiative going for as long as possible.”
COVID-19 has limited Dallas’ sheltering capacity because providers have had to decrease beds to accommodate social distancing.
In March, the city opened a homeless shelter at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center but it was closed five months later. The temporary space averaged about 300 people a night.
The city has since used federal CARES Act money to buy three hotels that it eventually aims to turn into permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness.
“We were able to provide hotel sheltering to guests more cost-effectively than to continue operating the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center as a shelter since that’s not what it’s built for,” said city spokeswoman Catherine Cuellar.
Austin Street Center, OurCalling, The Stewpot, Union Gospel Mission and Oak Lawn United Methodist Church are among the groups that have pooled money together to pay for hotel rooms this winter.
The groups paid for 129 hotel rooms Wednesday, and it typically costs $10,000 to $15,000 a night, said Wayne Walker, OurCalling’s executive director and pastor.
The group acts as the intake center for people seeking shelter and has an app to send an alert when temporary shelters will be open. From there, the groups and city staff work together to feed and transport people to temporary shelter through the hotels, Austin Street, Union Gospel Mission and The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center.
People receive COVID-19 rapid tests at OurCalling. If necessary, they quarantine at one of the city-owned hotels.
OurCalling has also been accepting people into its downtown headquarters overnight, in violation of an ordinance the city passed last year requiring faith-based nonprofits, churches and other religious groups to apply with the city to provide temporary shelter.
Groups within a half-mile from downtown’s central business district are excluded from applying, which includes OurCalling. Groups in violation face up to $2,000 in fines for each offense.
Walker said at least 30 people stayed at OurCalling’s building overnight Wednesday, and they will continue to provide space if there’s a need.
“We really don’t want to stay open, but we have no other option at this point,” Walker said.
No one has applied to operate as a temporary shelter, Cuellar said. But the city has no plans to fine OurCalling at this point, she said.
“The need is too great,” she said.
This comes after the city ordered a South Dallas encampment of nearly 30 people to move from a vacant lot by last weekend or the lot’s owner would face fines.
Sixteen people from the encampment were placed in city hotels on Friday and Monday. One resident with a German shepherd was given a crate, dog food and got their pet vaccinated by the city, Cuellar said.
Thomas said she hopes more resources are devoted to helping those without permanent shelter.
“We’re never doing enough if we have people on the street,” she said.