Nonprofits are doing their best to get people out of the freezing weather North Texas has experienced since Sunday morning, but space is limited and omicron is making things even more complicated.
OurCalling, a nonprofit that helps homeless people, is one of several organizations that opened its doors Sunday night to keep people warm.
"Last night we had about 200 (people)," OurCalling CEO Pastor Wayne Walker said. "And that's after sending lots of folks to two other overflow sights, plus one of our church partners."
Walker said before they could stay, everyone was tested for COVID-19. Those who tested positive were sent to a separate facility where they could quarantine.
"We want to keep everyone safe," Walker said.
He said beds were spaced out to ensure proper social distancing. But less space means fewer beds, and Walker said nonprofits could use all the space they can get.
He asked organizations to sign up through the city of Dallas to open up and share their space during inclement weather. There are several ways for individuals to help as well. Donating is one of them. Also, reporting homeless camps through the OurCalling app so that the nonprofit knows where to send help.
The Salvation Army is doing its part to help get people off the street during this cold snap too. It opened warming shelters in Plano, Denton, Lewisville, McKinney and Garland over the weekend and housed more than 300 people.
Walker said a lot of people think they're helping by dropping off blankets and firewood to people sleeping outside, but this can actually do more harm than good.
He said it might encourage them to think they can handle the cold, so they set up camp instead of trying to find somewhere warm to go. He encouraged people to drop off blankets and coats to one of the many nonprofits accepting them, and allow those groups to distribute to people in need.
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