AUSTIN, Texas — Sub-freezing temperatures have arrived in Austin, and the City is still trying to help those seeking shelter.
Over the weekend, hundreds of people with no place to go registered at the One Texas Center to get a spot at one of the city’s cold weather shelters. According to Austin’s Homeless Strategy Office, 209 people registered on Saturday. On Sunday, 404 people registered.
Jamarcas King was one of dozens in line Sunday afternoon ahead of the open registration and said it felt good to have somewhere to go.
"This morning, I was crying cause I ain't never been through this type of situation," King said.
King added that he is just trying to stay warm and move forward. He and the many others who showed up are the reason City staff decided to pre-activate the shelters.
In order for the City to activate cold weather shelters, the temperatures need to be predicted at 32 degrees or lower. Homeless Strategy Office program manager Greg McCormack told KVUE they weren’t taking any chances.
"This time, we knew that this was going to meet threshold and that these temperatures were going to be dangerous. And we want to make sure and be prepared to get as many folks inside as possible," McCormack said.
The way the City set it up is anyone in need of a warm place to stay was able to show up to One Texas Center from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Once registered, volunteers would then be bused to the shelters through CapMetro. There, people are offered three meals a day and snacks along with blankets, jackets and a place to sleep.
The capacity for the shelters is 300 people, but McCormack said the goal is not to turn anyone away. He said if they reach capacity, they will open additional shelters.
"It's really dangerous to be outside and camping, and so, we really want the word to get out that anybody who's outside wants to come inside. Please come into the cold weather shelter," McCormack said.
McCormack said anyone who missed registration on Sunday will be able to register on Monday night, and likely Tuesday. Anyone at the shelters is welcome to stay throughout the cold snap.
“We want to make sure with these frigid temperatures that we're providing a safe and warm environment for people to come in to and stay inside while this is here,” McCormack said.