Shelter & Food for Homeless in Arlington, Texas During Winter Weather

Winter is a harsh time for people to be homeless. The average citizen in the United States has no idea that there are many homeless people trying to survive within a few blocks, or miles, from their own warm home. This is especially true in large cities and Arlington, Texas is no exception.

If you know someone or see someone you think is homeless, you can assist in finding him or her a warm place to stay. If someone is homeless, he (or she) probably has no Internet connection and / or no computer and cannot search the Internet for a warm meal or a place to stay when the temperature dips into the 20s or 30s at night. Therefore, shelter information must be shared by another homeless person or supplied by a friend or a concerned citizen.

One way to assist homeless people is to print listings of shelters with their addresses, phone numbers, and operating hours. These listings can be carried in your vehicle and readily available if the opportunity arises for you to be helpful to a homeless person. Depending on the circumstances, further assistance could be given, such as funding a telephone call or making a phone call yourself (if the homeless person wants you to do so).

When trying to help homeless people, use caution to insure your own safety and do not put yourself in a dangerous situation. Also, homeless people tend to be wary of strangers, probably with good cause. It is best to be tactful and understanding and try to access the situation and the proper way to assist someone to find shelter from the winter weather.

There are two places in Arlington, Texas that provide resources for homeless people.

Arlington Life Shelter
325 West Division Street
Arlington, Texas 76011
817-795-7376

www.arlingtonlifeshelter.org/ProgramsEvents.aspx

Emergency Services
(as stated on Arlington Life Shelter's web site)

Inclement weather services are available during periods of extreme weather.
72-hour services are available for persons not interested in employment.
14-day services and housing placement is available for persons not
interested in working or those physically unable to work. Off site housing and services are provided for a limited number of individuals and families.

Mission Arlington
210 West South Street
Arlington, Texas 76011
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Saturday - 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
817-277-6620

www.missionarlington.org/services/crisisintervention/

Mission Arlington does not have facilities for overnight stays. However, Mission Arlington / Mission Metroplex operate a daytime shelter seven days a week for current residents of the Arlington Life Shelter. Mission Arlington also provides adult and children's clothes free of charge. The web sites listed also have information about additional services to help people with various other needs.