Under DC's Homeless Services Reform Act, when temperatures drop below 32 degrees the city activates Hypothermia Alert and must provide shelter to any resident who requests it, with no eligibility prescreening.
DC Code 4-754.01 establishes a right to shelter during Hypothermia Alert (forecast or actual temperature including wind chill at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit) and Heat Emergency (heat index at or above 95 degrees). The Department of Human Services activates additional warming sites, low-barrier beds, and expanded transportation, and DHS must place anyone seeking shelter regardless of intake status. Pathways to Housing DC and similar housing-first providers also operate bridge-housing pipelines connecting shelter contacts to permanent supportive housing. Hypothermia season runs November 1 through March 31, with daily activation decisions posted on the DHS website.
Turning away residents during alerts, denying transport, or imposing prescreening barriers violates the HSRA and exposes the District and contracted providers to court-ordered compliance.
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