Preparing for a Deep Freeze 2024
Fryda Ochoa • January 11, 2024
We will use this page to post and share information about upcoming winter weather and resources for people experiencing homelessness as it becomes available.
The Coalition for the Homeless as lead agency to The Way Home Continuum of Care (CoC) is working with local governmental entities to advocate on behalf of people experiencing homelessness to ensure their needs are being considered as winter weather affects our region.
We will make frequent updates as we receive information. Please check back often for the latest information.
Last update: 01/16/2024 at 12:00 p.m.
Weather Information
The National Weather Service has advised a cold front is expected to pass through the Houston area beginning Sunday, January 14, that will include a hard freeze. Cold weather can pose a danger to the health and safety of Houston residents and proper care should be taken to reduce exposure to these conditions.
For the latest forecast, visit https://www.weather.gov/hgx/
City of Houston Warming Centers
For those who need to escape the elements, the City of Houston will open the following warming center locations beginning at 3 p.m. Monday, January 15:
| Name | Address | Bus route/Addnl info |
|---|---|---|
| Acres Homes Multi-Service Center | 6719 W. Montgomery Rd., Houston, TX 77091 | METRO: 44 – Acres Homes stop @ W. Montgomery & Wilburforce |
| Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center | 6402 Market St., Houston, TX 77020 | METRO: 48 Market stop @ Market & Rouse |
| Downtown Recovery Center | 150 Chenevert St., Houston, TX 77002 | METRO: 48 Market stop @ Runnels & East Dr. |
| Fonde Community Center | 110 Sabine St., Houston, TX 77007 | METRO: 30 Clinton/Ella stop @ Memorial & Houston |
| Metropolitan Multi-Service Center at W. Gray | 1745 W. Gray St., Houston TX 77019 | METRO: 32 Renwick/San Felipe stop @ W. Gray & Waugh |
| Sunnyside Health and Multi-Service Center | 4410 Reed Rd., Houston, TX 77051 | METRO: 29 Cullen/Hirsch stop @ Cullen & Wilmington |
| Magnolia Multi-Service Center | 7037 Capitol, Houston, TX 77011 | 08:00 PM – 08:00 AM Mon-Tues, Tues-Wed; Pets Welcome (may be required to stay in kennel) |
All City of Houston facilities will accept pets. These pets may be required to stay in kennels provided by BARC.
Free Rides
The City of Houston will offer free rides to these locations for anyone who needs assistance. To arrange for a ride, please contact 3-1-1.
For additional information, please visit https://www.houstonoem.org/pages/january2024freeze
Additional warming centers in Houston and Harris County
| Name | Address | Bus Route/Addnl Info |
|---|---|---|
| Christ’s Kingdom Church (R.O.C.K) | 4101 Broadway St. Houston, TX 77087 | 08:00 PM – 08:00 AM Mon-Tues, Tues-Wed |
| Lakewood Church | 3700 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77027 | 08:00 PM – 08:00 AM Mon-Tues, Tues-Wed; No Pets |
| Alief Family YMCA | 7850 Howell Sugar Land Rd., Houston, TX 77083 | Metro: 75 and 4, Pavilion Point @ Howell stop; No pets |
| Bayland Community Center | 6400 Bissonnet St. Houston, TX 77074 | Opens 5 p.m. Sunday, January 14; Pets Welcome (may be required to stay in kennel) |
| Green House International Church | 200 W Greens Rd, Houston, TX 77067 |
The Way Home partners operations updates
- Covenant House Texas will remain open at their temporary campus on 3412 Beulah St. as will their Youth Engagement Center drop-in center. Find more information on their website.
- Hope Center Houston has extended its normal Monday-Friday hours of operations as a homeless day center to include evening hours as both an overnight shelter and a warming center on Monday, January 15th, Tuesday, January 16th, Wednesday, January 17th, and future dates as necessary. HCH will operate during normal hours 9:00am-1:00pm and during expanded overnight hours beginning at 5:00pm. Evening access to the building through the front gate will be from 5:00-7:00 pm, on a first-come, first-served basis, and until seating/sleeping capacity has been reached for the dates mentioned above. Find more information on their website.
If you would like us to include information on this page about your agency's operations during the winter weather, please send that information to Fryda Ochoa, Communications Associate, at fochoa@homelesshouston.org.
Fort Bend County Warming Centers
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Albert George Branch Library | 9230 Gene Street, Needville, TX 77461 | 281-238-2850 |
| Cinco Ranch Branch Library | 2620 Commercial Ctr. Blvd., Katy, TX 77494 | 281-395-1311 |
| First Colony Branch Library | 2121 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 | 281-238-2800 |
| Fulshear Branch Library | 1422 Eugene Heimann Cir, Richmond, TX 77469 | 281-341-2718 |
| George Memorial Library | 1001 Gulfview Drive, Richmond, TX 77469 | 281-342-4455 |
| Mamie George Library | 320 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477 | 281-238-2880 |
| Mission Bend Library | 8421 Addicks Clodine Rd., Houston, TX 77083 | 832-471-5900 |
| Missouri City Library | 1530 Texas Parkway, Missouri City, TX 77489 | 281-238-2100 |
| Sienna Branch Library | 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd., Missouri City, TX 77459 | 281-238-2140 |
| Sugar Land Branch Library | 550 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 | 281-238-2140 |
| University Branch Library | 14010 University Blvd., Sugar Land, TX 77479 | 281-633-5100 |
| Willie Melton Law Library | 1422 Eugene Heimann Cir., Richmond, TX 77469 | 281-341-3718 |
| Atack Poverty/Friends | 1908 Avenue E., Rosenberg, TX 77471 | Sunday, Jan. 14, through Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Center will provide free WiFi, cots, blankets, and food. |
Ft. Bend Additional Operations Updates
- Regular operations at library locations will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15, and are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, Jan. 16. Residents are encouraged to contact the respective library locations for detailed information regarding their hours of operation.
- Anyone in need of public transportation to warming centers may call 281-633-7433 for free assistance.
- For any transportation needs outside of business hours, residents can call 281-633-7433 and select option 1 to reach dispatchers.
- The Fort Bend County Animal Services announced that they will be providing free doghouses for those in need of shelter for their outdoor pets. The shelter is open on Saturday and Sunday until 3 p.m. To report animal neglect, residents can call 281-342-1512.
Montgomery County Warming Centers
| Name | Address | Bus route/Addnl info |
|---|---|---|
| The Salvation Army Conroe Community Center | 304 Avenue E, Conroe, TX 77301 | 72-bed warming center will offer overnight hours and can accommodate an additional 40 guests during the freeze. Salvation Army Conroe will offer a 24-hour warming station if temperatures do not exceed 40 degrees. |
| Compassion United in Conroe | 350 Foster Dr, Conroe, TX 77301 | Starts on Monday and provides lunch. Transportation to the shelter during freezing weather with its campus bus |
Montgomery County Additional Operational Updates
- Montgomery County Food Bank mobile food distributions that are outdoors with participants driving through are scheduled to proceed as planned. Should there be a cancellation due to weather, the food bank will update the group's social media pages and website.
Local Emergency Management Authorities
For information about whether local jurisdictions will be opening warming centers.
| Jurisdiction | Website | Twitter (for latest updates) |
|---|---|---|
| City of Houston | https://www.houstonoem.org/ | https://twitter.com/HoustonOEM |
| City of Pasadena | https://www.pasadenatx.gov/185/Emergency-Management | https://twitter.com/pasadenatxgov |
| Harris County | https://www.readyharris.org/ | https://twitter.com/readyharris |
| Montgomery County | https://mctxoem.org/ | https://twitter.com/MCOEM |
| Fort Bend County | https://fbcoem.org/ | https://twitter.com/fbcoem |
Winter Weather Q&A
What is the homeless response system doing to prepare for the upcoming winter weather?
- The Coalition for the Homeless is working with local government agencies, including the City of Houston and Harris County, as well as partner agencies of The Way Home Continuum of Care to ensure that people living unsheltered (on the streets) are informed about and protected from upcoming winter weather.
- Outreach teams — the front-line staff who interact with people living unsheltered (i.e., on the streets or in encampments) — have been spreading the word that we are likely to be hit by winter weather this week and have been handing out cold weather supplies and offering rides to shelter when possible.
I would like to help.
To Donate
CFTH serves as an administrative agency, providing leadership and coordination to local direct service providers.
Please consider supporting our work to help us respond to crises and solve homelessness in our community.
Public Health infographics
For the latest updates
CFTH will share information and resources on its Facebook account as it becomes available.
On this World Health Day – and after five years of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic, we reflect on our system’s work through the Community COVID Housing Program (CCHP) .
March is National Social Work Month!
The fairways were alive with energy, the competition was friendly but fierce, and — most importantly — the mission was at the heart of it all.
