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A Code Blue Weather Emergency notice is issued when the temperature drops to 32°F degrees Fahrenheit or less between 4 p.m. and 8 a.m., including National Weather Service calculations for wind chill values.
No one who is homeless and seeking shelter in New York City during a Code Blue will be denied.
Code Blue Weather Emergencies include the following options for the homeless:
Shelters
During a Code Blue, shelter is available system-wide to accommodate anyone who is reasonably believed to be homeless and is brought to a shelter by outreach teams. Accommodations are also available for walk-ins. Anyone who is experiencing homelessness can present at any NYC-DHS contract shelter and request accommodations. Click here to find a list of intake shelters that are open twenty-four hours, daily.
Drop-in centers
All drop-in centers are open twenty-four hours per day when Code Blue procedures are in effect and will assist as many people as possible for the duration of the emergency. Drop-in staff can also make arrangements for homeless individuals at other citywide facilities.
Warming Centers
Warming Centers are short-term emergency shelters that operate when temperatures or a combination of precipitation, wind chill, wind, and temperature become dangerously inclement-- mainly during Code Blue Weather Emergencies in New York City. Click here to find a Warming Center.
Street Homeless Outreach Teams
Teams will contact vulnerable individuals on their Code Blue Priority Lists to ensure safety and bring them to shelter. DHS coordinates Code Blue efforts directly with agencies such as DSNY, and the Parks Department, at a borough level.
Hospitals
If a person experiencing homelessness presents at a hospital, the hospital will request an outreach team to be dispatched. The hospital shall not refuse shelter until the outreach team arrives.
For more information about Code Blue, please visit the NYC Department of Homeless Services website.
Listing* ID: 3517196030If you need help with shelter during a Code Blue Weather Emergency, here are some suggestions.
If you're experiencing a medical or mental health emergency please call 911 for assistance.
Go to the nearest NYC-DHS Intake Shelter, Drop-In Center, or Warming Center.
Call or visit NYC311's website or app and request an outreach team be sent to your location. Response times typically are 45-minutes to 90-minutes.
Ask an NYPD Officer or visit an NYPD Precinct and request a Homeless Outreach Team.
Visit the closest hospital, and staff will request a Homeless Outreach Team be sent.
If you know of someone that needs help with shelter during a Code Blue Weather Emergency, here are some suggestions.
If they're experiencing a medical or mental health emergency please call 911 for assistance.
Using the NYC311 App or website, complete a report to request a Homeless Outreach Team to respond. Response times typically are 45-minutes to 90-minutes.
Ask a nearby NYPD Officer to request a Homeless Outreach Team.