Dallas details inclement weather shelter activation, asks for volunteers and donations

City of Dallas officials held a media event at Fair Park to outline how the city will operate its inclement weather shelter and to ask the public for volunteers and donations.

Interim City Manager Kimberly Beiser Tolbert said the city is committed to keeping people experiencing homelessness safe during winter weather, saying “no individual must face the harsh elements alone.” She thanked partner organizations and the Dallas City Council for support in staffing and resourcing shelter operations.

Christine Crossley, director of the City of Dallas Office of Homeless Solutions, reviewed the activation criteria and transportation plan. According to Crossley, the shelter opens when “the weather is 32 degrees or lower for 3 contiguous hours or if it's 36 degrees or lower with a 50% chance of wet weather.” She said the program operates designated pickup zones for transportation and that the current activation is centered at Fair Park, with the option to expand to additional sites there if needed.

Program administrator Gloria Sandoval outlined volunteer and donation logistics. “What you see behind me… are 1,000 coats that were donated by the citizens of Dallas,” she said, and added that city employees donated about 4,600 winter caps and gloves in a separate drive. Sandoval urged donations of bottled water, blankets, travel-sized toiletries, laundry detergent and towels, and said there remains a need for more men’s adult-size coats. Item donations are being accepted at Austin Street Center, 1717 Jeffrey Street, daily between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; monetary gifts can be directed to the Office of Homeless Solutions Fund at the Communities Foundation of Texas. Officials asked that people not bring bulk donations to the shelter site and that volunteers register before arriving; the contact email given was ohsvolunteer@dallas.gov.

Representatives from Austin Street Center described the organization’s role in running shelter operations and thanked collaborating agencies, including North Texas Behavioral Health Authority, Dallas Fire-Rescue and Parkland. The event concluded with a short tour of the shelter site and an offer for reporters to ask questions.

City officials said the activation criteria, volunteer sign-up and donation details are posted on the Office of Homeless Solutions website and urged residents who want to help to consult the site or email the volunteer mailbox for specifics on shifts and pickup zones.