WASHINGTON, D.C. — District officials and community advocates gathered on November 5 to mark the start of hypothermia season across the nation’s capital, urging residents to assist vulnerable neighbors by connecting them with free, round-the-clock emergency shelter transportation and support services.
Mayor Muriel Bowser, joined by D.C. Department of Human Services Director A.D. Rachel Pierre and DowntownDC Business Improvement District leadership at the Downtown Day Services Center, encouraged community members to take the Hypothermia Awareness Pledge. The pledge is a civic commitment to watch for unhoused individuals during freezing weather and request assistance through the District’s Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or by dialing 311.
Running annually from November 1 through March 31, hypothermia season activates citywide emergency resources designed to protect residents from severe cold. Under District law, emergency shelter during freezing temperatures is a legal right. City outreach workers conduct welfare checks, distribute cold-weather gear such as blankets, gloves, and hats, and provide accessible transit to shelters 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
District officials trigger Cold Alerts when forecasted temperatures, including wind chill, fall between 15 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Extreme Cold Alerts take effect when temperatures drop below 15 degrees or fall to 20 degrees with accompanying precipitation. According to the District’s 2026 Point-in-Time Count, family homelessness in the city has decreased by 54.8% since 2015, family shelter entries dropped 30% year-over-year, and unsheltered homelessness declined by an estimated 9.3% compared to 2025.
The Washington Herald
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Washington, D.C.
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