New Code Blue Declaration Sunday, January 19 due to expected cold, snow
PHILADELPHIA – On Friday, January 17 at 9 a.m., the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) ended the Code Blue it declared on Thursday, January 2, 2025. In anticipation of an impending snow event and extended Code Blue duration, OHS teamed up with several City departments and a provider partner to launch the Warming Center Initiative — opening City libraries, recreation centers, and provider facilities to serve as warming centers.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker approved the Warming Center Initiative.
“As a direct result of Mayor Parker’s total support, along with the logistical and operational support we received from our City partners, led by the Office of Emergency Management, we were able to quickly execute our initiative, potentially saving lives,” said OHS Executive Director Cheryl Hill.
“Our Warming Center Initiative was critically important to Philadelphians who needed a place to come in from the frigid cold temperatures that our city has been experiencing,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “I want to thank every city worker who’s been involved in this life-saving work.”
Anyone in the city was welcome into the warming centers, whether they were experiencing unsheltered homelessness or had lost power or heat in their home.
With the Code Blue declaration over, the warming centers closed; however, because it is still cold outside, the City transported to several Free Library of Philadelphia branches the guests who were inside the recreation centers that had been serving as overnight warming centers during the Initiative. OHS staff were at the libraries to offer services.
“Our Warming Center Initiative was vital to ensuring people were not left outside in the frigid temperatures we experienced during the Code Blue,” said Hill. “Once the Code Blue ended, we wanted to make sure that no one would be sent out in the cold with nowhere to go.”
OHS provider partners, One Day at a Time and Project HOME provided additional shelter and warming center space, while GHR Healthcare provided medical and other health-related workers to help support the dozens of OHS, DBHIDS and other City housing, social work, and behavioral health staffers who volunteered to work extra hours at the warming centers in addition to their regular work schedules.
Warming Center Initiative: By the numbers
Since the Warming Center Initiative launch on Sunday, January 5, outreach teams had more than 19,500 engagements with people living on the streets.
There were many as 2,750 visits to warming sites from January 5 through January 14.
City and State departments that joined OHS to provide additional Code Blue Warming Center Initiative support:
- Department of Behavioral Health and DisAbility Services
- Free Library of Philadelphia
- Office of Emergency Management
- Office of Public Safety
- Pennsylvania Department of Human Services
- Procurement Department
- Philadelphia Department of Public Health
- Philadelphia Fire Department
- Philadelphia Parks and Recreation
- Philadelphia Police Department
About the Upcoming Code Blue declaration this weekend
Due to an anticipated dip in temperatures and potential snowfall, OHS will declare another Code Blue on Sunday, January 19, at 3 p.m. OHS and the City will once again activate the Warming Center Initiative with the new, enhanced Code Blue declaration stance. As many as 19 warming centers will be available with extra seating will boost. At 3 p.m. when the Code Blue goes into effect, the City’s outreach teams will increase engagement on the streets to encourage people living outdoors to come inside a warming center. Transportation will be provided.
“The City is closely monitoring the weather forecasts and are prepared for any adverse weather event,” Streets Commissioner, Kristin Del Rossi. “We are ready to mobilize street pre-treating and snow clearing as needed across the city.”
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About the Warming Center Initiative
The Warming Center Initiative opens warming centers during a Code Blue or Snow Emergency declaration. Anyone who needs a warm indoor place to stay may visit a warming center or daytime drop-in center, where food is also available. They may also call the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbility’s Homeless Street Outreach Team at (215) 232-1984 to get a ride to one. The Warming Center Initiative is a partnership of the Office of Homeless Services and several City departments including the Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department, the Free Library of Philadelphia, and provider partners, One Day at a Time and Project HOME.
About The Office of Homeless Services
The mission of the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) is to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. OHS works with more than 70 homeless housing and service providers, as well as city, state, and federal government. This system provides homelessness prevention and diversion aid, along with emergency and temporary housing, to people who are experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.