Washington Desk
District Opens Hypothermia Season With Shelter and Transportation Reminder
District officials are marking the start of hypothermia season and asking residents to use 311 or the Shelter Hotline when someone needs a warm place to go.
A winter safety system begins
District officials scheduled an 11 a.m. event at Triangle Park on November 5 to mark hypothermia season and promote a public awareness pledge. The season runs from November 1 through March 31, when the city activates added shelter and outreach services. The announcement is a reminder about an operating public-safety system, not a report that the scheduled event has already occurred.
How residents can request help
The District directs residents to call 311 or the Shelter Hotline at 202-399-7093 when they or another person need transportation to shelter. The city describes that transportation as free and accessible. A request for outreach should include a useful location and visible details without requiring a resident to diagnose hypothermia or determine eligibility for a particular placement.
What the season adds
The seasonal response includes shelter, hot meals, warming items and outreach support for people experiencing homelessness. Those services operate within a larger network of year-round prevention and housing programs. A cold-weather activation does not by itself resolve a person's housing needs, but it can reduce immediate exposure risk and connect someone with staff who can assess the next step.
The latest official count
The mayor's office cited the 2026 Point-in-Time Count in reporting that family homelessness was 54.8 percent lower than in 2015, family shelter entries fell 30 percent from the prior year and the estimated number of unsheltered individuals declined 9.3 percent from 2025. A one-night count is a standardized planning measure, not a complete census of every person who experiences homelessness during a year.
A practical role for the public
The awareness pledge asks residents to watch for neighbors who may need help during cold weather. The useful action is a prompt call to the city's established channels rather than an attempt to manage a medical or safety crisis alone. For an immediate emergency, residents should call 911. For shelter transportation and outreach, the District's current advisory provides the direct contacts and should be checked for later updates.
Primary evidence
Reporting note: This independently composed article is based on the linked primary records. Publication and event dates are stated separately. Agency claims are identified as such; an allegation, charge or scheduled event is not presented as a finding, conviction or completed event. Readers should consult the official record for amendments and later action.