The Emergency Response and Shelter Operations (ERSO) Committee met on July 31 to discuss The Winter Plan for 2016-2017, with an emphasis on emergency contact information.
The Winter Plan is the city protocol for ensuring that homeless people have shelter during a Hypothermia Alert, conditions in which D.C. recognizes a right to shelter, and during a Cold Weather Emergency, which is activated by even more extreme weather conditions.
The language in the 2015-2016 Winter Plan was unclear and often did not direct the public to the correct phone numbers, depending on the resource needed. ERSO, a D.C. Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) committee, focused on clarifying the document language to reflect the roles each office will play in the Winter Plan.
The Shelter Hotline (1-800-535-7252) will still serve as the main number to connect homeless people with shelter during the hypothermia season. However, if ever uncertain whether someone needs medical attention, people should always call 911 first.
Last year, the shelter hotline staff was overwhelmed by call volume and misunderstandings with callers about the process for connecting people with shelter services. The ERSO Committee discussed possible improvements to the plan to resolve ambiguous language, but no edits were officially made.
The ERSO Committee will host a public feedback session on the new Winter Plan August 18, 2-4 p.m. at N St. Village (1333 N St. NW). The 2016-2017 Winter Plan must be finalized by September 1 in accordance with the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005.
