COLD.DC.GOV

Welcome to COLD.DC.GOV, the District’s one-stop resource for hypothermia season. The District is committed to ensuring that people experiencing homelessness have access to shelter from November through March when unsheltered residents are at greatest risk of hypothermia and other cold-weather injuries. During hypothermia season, the District issues alerts, increases shelter capacity, and extends outreach and transportation operational hours. 

Last Updated: Friday, October 31, 2025, at 5PM ET 
Current Alert Status: NO ALERT ACTIVATED
Sign Up for Alerts: AlertDC 
Transportation Schedule: United Planning Organization (UPO) 
Get Help Now: Call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 311

Scroll down for more information regarding: 

• Calling for Help 
• Alert Notifications 
• Low Barrier and Hypothermia Shelters 
• Transportation 
• Outreach 
• Families Experiencing Homelessness 
• Youth and Unaccompanied Minors 

Download our Resource Guides for Single Adults (18+) and Transition Age Youth (18-24).

 

Click here to access the District’s full 2025/26 Winter Plan to protect individuals and families experiencing homelessness from cold-weather injury. 

Check back often for updates throughout hypothermia season! 
 

CALLING FOR HELP 

During hypothermia season, the Shelter Hotline is available 24/7. If you need help or see someone outside who needs shelter or a welfare check, please call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or dial 311. If there is an immediate risk to safety, call 911. When calling, please include the date and time, the address or location, and a description of the person in need. 
 

When to call the Shelter Hotline or 311: 

• An individual requests transportation to a shelter or access to other homeless services 
• An individual is alert but expresses they are cold, or you witness behaviors indicating they may be cold 
• You see an individual who appears to be vulnerable, and you have a concern that the conditions may be detrimental to them 
• When an individual asks for any type of homeless services 

When to call 911: 

• You know something about the person that may increase their risk in the cold (age, medical issue, substance abuse history) 
• You see someone already experiencing the effects of hypothermia (sluggish, confused, shivering) 
• The conditions are severe (extreme cold, significant snow/ice accumulation) 
• You see someone without the proper cold-weather resources (shoes, gloves, hat) or with wet items (clothing, blanket, bedding) 
   

ALERT NOTIFICATIONS 

Preventing hypothermia and other cold-weather injuries during cold weather requires communication and collaboration among key stakeholders, including all DC residents; providers of shelter, transportation, and other supportive services; and those who are experiencing or at immediate risk of homelessness. 

Beginning November 1, the District’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA), in consultation with meteorologists at the National Weather Service (NWS), determines on a daily basis if a Cold Alert or Extreme Cold Alert should be issued based on forecasted weather conditions. 

How to Receive Alert Notifications 

District residents and key personnel administering critical homeless services programs should sign up for free email and/or text alerts at alert.dc.gov. Homeless services providers may call the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 at any time to determine the current alert status.  

The alert status is posted on X by AlertDC (@AlertDC) and HSEMA (@DC_HSEMA); amplified by the Mayor’s Office (@MayorBowser), the Department of Human Services (@DCHumanServ), and other key agencies; and available for all interested parties here on cold.dc.gov. Alert status information is also available via in-person inquiries at Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) stations, Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) stations, DC public libraries, and Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) centers. 
 

LOW BARRIER AND HYPOTHERMIA SHELTERS 

The District is committed to preventing cold-weather injury and continuing to meet its right-to-shelter mandate during hypothermia season. The District is one of only a few jurisdictions in the country that provides a legal right to shelter in hypothermic weather conditions.  

Low-barrier shelters are available 24/7 year-round. From November through March, the District increases its shelter capacity by mobilizing hypothermia shelters. Hypothermia shelters generally operate from 7PM - 7AM. When there is an Extreme Cold Alert in effect, hypothermia shelters extend their hours to include 7AM - 7PM, operating around the clock until the Extreme Cold Alert is lifted. 

Interactive Map​​​​​

 

TRANSPORTATION 

From November through March, free transportation to and from a shelter or day center is available to individuals experiencing homelessness 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

Scheduled pick-up and drop-off locations vary by shelter and day center and are subject to change due to traffic conditions and winter weather challenges, including snow emergencies and ice.  

Click here to access the Shelter Hotline transportation schedule. 

Unscheduled (on-demand) transportation is available through the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 or 311. Residents relying upon on-demand transportation may experience delays from 6AM -10AM and 3PM - 9PM due to scheduled routes being prioritized at these times. On-demand transportation may also be impacted by traffic conditions and winter weather challenges. Accessible transportation for persons with disabilities is available upon request.