Inclement Weather and Shelter Access

Overview

The City’s Cold Weather Operations and Shelter process includes continuous shelter availability, regardless of the forecasted temperature outside, from December 1st to March 31st.

The Department of Human Services remains committed to transitioning unhoused residents or those facing housing instability into permanent housing. Case management, meals and connection to other critical services are provided at the operating shelters to aid individuals and families in obtaining permanent housing.

Code Blue: Emergency Cold Weather Response

Code Blue is the City of St. Louis’s emergency response to dangerous cold weather for people experiencing homelessness.

When Code Blue is active, the City increases access to warm, safe places and support services. Depending on conditions, this may include:

• Additional emergency shelter beds
• Extended shelter hours, including 24-hour access
• Warming centers and daytime warming options
• Transportation assistance to shelters
• Expanded street outreach to connect people to services

Code Blue Activation Levels and Process

Level 1: Steady State Activation (Standard Winter Operations)

Conditions: 

• December 1 – March 1 

Operational Focus:

• Routine winter weather monitoring and situational awareness maintained
• Preparations are maintained for a potential activation

Resources Activated:

• WWUC: Inactive
• Baseline Beds: 400
• Surge Beds: 60 or more on standby
• Transportation: Inactive
• Warming Centers: Inactive

Level 2: Limited Activation (Low Risk Code Blue)

Conditions: 

• Temperatures below 32°F; or
• Wind chill below 25°F

Operational Focus:

• Increased winter weather monitoring and situational awareness maintained
• Enhanced public messaging 
• Increased community outreach and engagement efforts engaged

Resources Activated:

• WWUC: Partial activation
• Baseline Beds: 400
• Surge Beds: 150 activated 
• Transportation: Inactive
• Warming Centers: Select locations activated

Level 3: Partial Activation (Moderate Risk Code Blue)

Conditions: 

• Temperatures at or below 25°F; or 
• Wind chill below 10°F 

Operational Focus:

• All focus areas included in Level 2
• Citywide Code Blue messaging deployed
• Fully engaged community outreach and engagement efforts in place.

Resources Activated:

Level 4: Full Activation (High Risk Code Blue)

Conditions: 

• Temperatures 10°F or below; or
• Wind chill below -10°F

Operational Focus:

• All areas covered in Level 3
• Unified incident management across City departments
• Mandatory hourly reporting
• Fully engaged community outreach and engagement efforts in place

Resources Activated:

• WWUC: Full activation
• Baseline Beds: 400
• Surge Beds: 600 activated
• Rally Points: All locations activated
• Transportation: 
• All rally points activated
• Full transport fleet deployed
• Warming buses at priority sites
• Warming Centers: All locations activated

Outreach Team

The City of St. Louis partners with agencies, volunteer groups and various departments within the City, to increase outreach activities and increase shelter bed availability to support unsheltered individuals and families.

Winter Outreach Alerts