DHS urges residents to "Help bring the homeless in from the cold."

(Washington, DC) Mayor Anthony A. Williams announced today that the hypothermia season is underway and that the Department of Human Services has launched the District government’s Hypothermia Watch Partner Campaign.

The campaign encourages residents, business owners, faith-based leaders, and the leaders of community-based organizations to report the location of homeless people in the District out in freezing weather by calling the Hypothermia Hotline at 1 (800) 535-7252.

Hypothermia season began November 1, 2004, and ends March 31, 2005. Hypothermia is a life-threatening condition that occurs when temperature and wind chill factor fall below 32 degrees fahrenheit and body temperature becomes dangerously below 95 degrees due to exposure in extreme cold.

“I am urging all who live, work, or visit the District of Columbia to take action when they see a homeless person on the street that is at risk of becoming hypothermic,” said Mayor Williams. “People should call the Hypothermia Shelter Hotline so that we can provide warm clothing, blankets, warm beverages, medical assistance and other resources to people in need.”

Mayor Williams added that 1,703 emergency shelter beds are available during hypothermia season. These beds are in addition to regular shelter beds available for the District’s homeless.

The Department of Human Services (DHS), which provides shelter and other support services for the District’s homeless, launches the Hypothermia Watch Partner Campaign each year by publicizing the Hypothermia Hotline number to alert citizens to help bring homeless people in from the cold. DHS provides shelter for a total of 17,000 homeless people in the District annually and adds emergency shelter space during hypothermia season.

DHS works in partnership with the Metropolitan Police Department, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department, Department of Mental Health, Department of Health, Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Emergency Management Agency.

“The Hypothermia Watch Partner initiative provides the opportunity for government agencies, businesses, faith-based organizations and the larger community to collectively address preventing deaths from hypothermia,” said DHS Director Yvonne Gilchrist.

DHS distributes buttons, decals, flyers, posters, and business cards with the hypothermia hotline number to key groups throughout the District. The flyers and business cards list shelters where homeless people can go. The Hypothermia Hotline number, 1 (800) 535-7252, is advertised on the interior and exterior of Metro buses and on Metro subway dioramas. Hypothermia hotline advertisements also air on radio and television.