Amarillo’s Code Blue Warming Station — a collaboration of 13 local nonprofits and agencies, including Amarillo Housing First — has been at full capacity each night this week as freezing temperatures push more people to seek shelter, Executive Director Virginia Williams Trice said.
The coalition’s mission is to save lives by providing a safe, warm space for people and their pets who have no other options to escape the cold.
Thursday marked the fifth night of activation, with volunteers working throughout the week to keep unhoused residents warm both inside the building and around a monitored outdoor fire pit.
Because of the building’s certificate of occupancy, the warming station is restricted to 20 people indoors, the maximum allowed under the warehousing occupancy designation required by city code officials. The 6,000-square-foot building must meet a 300-square-foot-per-person threshold under that classification.
“We’ve been at full capacity,” Williams Trice said. “We’re keeping people safe inside, and others warm outside. People can come in and out as needed. It’s fluid.”
More people seeking help
Although numbers fluctuate throughout the night, Williams Trice said volunteers have assisted dozens of people, including those who remain outdoors or move between locations.
“We have more and more people losing their housing,” she said. “Evictions are high in both Potter and Randall counties. Prices haven’t gone down, and rent definitely hasn’t gone down.”
When the station reaches its indoor limit, volunteers redirect anyone willing to go to other shelters such as the Salvation Army, Faith City Mission or Transformation Park — and when possible, to friends or family.
“We’re trying to be the last resort for people who have no other place to go,” she said. “We’re also doing a lot more rides to different locations.”
Amarillo Housing First expanded its mobile volunteer teams this season, transporting people not just to shelters but to family homes and a small number of local businesses that allow visitors to warm up briefly with coffee.
Williams Trice said it is important for the warming station to remain a low-barrier facility where people are able to stay with their pets and where rules are minimal for those who cannot meet requirements at other shelters. “Being able to keep it low barrier and allow pets is essential,” she said. “Some people simply won’t go anywhere they can’t stay with their animals.”
She said many unhoused residents also trust the Code Blue Warming Station in ways they do not trust other facilities. “Some people have a level of trust with us that they haven’t developed with other entities, especially Transformation Park,” she said. “Their friends vouch for us, they’ve been coming here for years, and they feel safe.”
Even when the warming station hits its 20-person indoor limit, Williams Trice said staff and volunteers refuse to let anyone stay out in dangerous weather. “Even when we’re full, we’re still finding a way to get everybody out of the cold,” she said. “If someone can’t stay inside, we get them to another shelter, help them reach family, use the fire pit outside — whatever it takes to make sure they don’t freeze.”
Building requirements tighten capacity
The warming station began operating in winter 2017-18 after Amarillo Housing First piloted a mobile shelter the previous year. But earlier this year, the organization was forced to halt operations temporarily after city officials said the building lacked a required certificate of occupancy.
In March, the City Marshal and the Building Official informed Amarillo Housing First that the nonprofit or its landlord needed to hire an architect, develop plans and apply for a Certificate of Occupancy. Multiple inspections would follow.
“According to the Building Official, in order to pass inspections, the building must be brought up to current code, and some of it is not,” Williams Trice said. “So there will need to be work done on the building to pass these inspections.”
The facility later reopened, but only under its existing warehousing classification — limiting the warming station to 20 people indoors until required upgrades are completed. The city has also told the nonprofit it must install plumbed bathrooms before it can seek a different occupancy designation.
“They’re making us build bathrooms because porta potties aren’t considered acceptable for a different occupancy load,” she said.
“Even getting permits pulled is so involved,” she added. “You need architectural plans, engineering plans, approvals and inspections. We’re not even through the first step.”
Volunteers and donations needed
The warming station begins each evening with three mobile volunteer teams, each with at least two people. As temperatures stabilize, staffing winds down, but volunteers remain available for transportation and welfare checks.
Williams Trice said the operation depends heavily on community support to meet nightly needs.
“The need is constant,” she said. “We use a lot of gloves, blankets, hats, hand warmers, hygiene items and snacks. People staying outdoors still get checked on, and we make sure they have what they need to stay warm enough to survive.”
Gift cards to Walmart, United Supermarkets, grocery stores or Sam’s Club help the nonprofit buy items in bulk. Monetary donations support supply orders, fuel for mobile volunteers and required building improvements.
Those wanting to help can drop off items, donate online, or sign up to volunteer through Amarillo Housing First’s Facebook page. New volunteers receive training in safety, de-escalation and compassionate care.
City of Amarillo cold-weather shelter options
The City of Amarillo has outlined available warming locations and services for the winter season:
Daytime warming centers
Nighttime shelters
Transportation
Donations
Shelters report consistent needs for blankets, gloves, socks, hats and cold-weather gear. Donations can be coordinated through Transformation Park, Salvation Army, Faith City Mission or the Coming Home Program.
‘This is about survival’
Williams Trice, a founder of Amarillo Housing First in 2016 and its executive director since 2019, said the nightly operation centers on dignity and humanity.
“Everyone is a human being, and their pets are their family,” she said. “It’s not right for people to be outdoors because they can’t meet barriers at other shelters.”
“At the warming station, this is about survival,” she said. “It’s also an opportunity to build relationships and connect people to services if that’s something they want. We just don’t want anyone freezing to death in our community.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo Code Blue is full but works to keep everyone out of the cold
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
