The Coalition for the Homeless, as lead agency to The Way Home, served as the central hub of communications for homelessness resources throughout the duration of the hard freeze. We worked with local governmental entities to advocate on behalf of people experiencing homelessness to ensure their needs were being considered as the deep freeze approached our region. We also coordinated with the direct service partners of The Way Home to understand their special operations and needs during this weather event. 

To keep our partners and the community at large informed, the Coalition worked with local media and maintained a dedicated blog with up-to-date resources for those experiencing homelessness in advance of the winter weather. 

Outreach teams from the Coalition, from other partners of The Way Home, and from law enforcement (like the Homeless Outreach Teams from Houston Police Department and Harris County Sheriff's Office) worked around the clock to notify and prepare unsheltered individuals about the incoming inclement weather, offer transportation to shelters and warming centers, and distribute cold weather supplies for those who remained in encampments (sleeping bags, blankets, water, socks, snacks, hand warmers, tarps, etc.). 

During the freeze, the Coalition coordinated and provided volunteers for the warming center at the George R Brown Convention Center, many of whom worked throughout the night to help keep operations running smoothly.  

This hard freeze once again underscored how critical coordination with government and partners is in ensuring people experiencing homelessness have a safe place to shelter during a public health emergency — or, better yet, that they get housed well before a weather emergency.