Frigid temperatures are headed for Middle Tennessee this weekend. And with lows expected to reach the single digits next week, the region will face some of the coldest temperatures it’s seen all year.
Already this winter, Metro has had to open its extreme cold weather shelter just over a dozen times. But, thanks to a rule change made in late 2022 by the Continuum of Care Homelessness Planning Council, the shelter doesn’t actually require bitter, below-freezing numbers to trigger an opening.
Now, the city’s emergency cold weather shelter can open when temperatures hit 32 degrees for three or more consecutive hours. Before, the city required temperatures to be at or below 28 degrees.
And that four-degree change makes a difference.
Between Nov. 2022 and March 2023 (the first winter with a raised threshold), there were 21 nights where the low fell between 29 and 32 degrees. Prior to the rule change, the shelter wouldn’t have opened on any of these nights.
It is hard to know exactly how long the low temperatures persisted, and a three-hour duration is part of the decision-making process for when to open the shelter. But, it is clear that the threshold change did encourage opening for a number of its nights last winter.
And availability is important — right now, the shelter is averaging 177 people hosted per night. Located on Brick Church Pike, the shelter’s hours are from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Metro provides transportation to the shelter through WeGo, and pets are allowed.
For more information, Nashvillians can text “NashvilleWinter” to 844483, or visit the Office of Homeless Services’ extreme weather page.
It is important to note that Metro’s shelter is only an emergency one. Primary shelters for the city include the Nashville Rescue Mission and Room In the Inn.
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