Mayor Bowser to Take Hypothermia Season Pledge, Encourage Residents to Support Neighbors in Need

(Washington, DC) - On Thursday, November 5 at 11 am, Mayor Muriel Bowser will join the DC Department of Human Services (DHS), the DowntownDC BID, and community partners to announce the start of hypothermia season and urge residents to sign the Hypothermia Awareness Pledge. The pledge is a commitment to watch out for neighbors experiencing homelessness during the winter months.

At the event, Mayor Bowser and attendees will spotlight available resources, including shelter, hot meals, warming items, and support for individuals experiencing homelessness.

Hypothermia season runs from November 1 through March 31. During this time, the District activates additional shelter and outreach services to ensure every resident has a safe, warm place to go. Residents are reminded they can call the Shelter Hotline at (202) 399-7093 or 311 to request free, accessible transportation to a shelter for themselves or someone else.

Under Mayor Bowser's leadership, the District has transformed supports for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. This includes closing the DC General shelter and opening smaller, service-enriched shelters citywide; expanding prevention through innovative programs and pilots like the Homeless Prevention Program, DC Flex, and Project Reconnect; and launching non-congregate bridge housing at The Aston and E Street. According to the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, family homelessness in DC is down 54.8% since 2015, family shelter entries fell 30% year-over-year, and the number of unsheltered individuals declined an estimated 9.3% from 2025.

When:
Thursday, November 5 at 11 am

Who:
Mayor Muriel Bowser
A.D. Rachel Pierre, Director, DC Department of Human Services
Gerren Price, President & CEO, DowntownDC BID
Reginald Black Jr., Co-Chair, Interagency Council on Homelessness ERSO Workgroup

Where:
Triangle Park
1311 New York Avenue NW
*Closest Metro: McPherson Square*
*Closest Bikeshare: 13th St & New York Ave NW*

Press interested in attending the event are asked to RSVP to [email protected].

The DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment will provide a live feed of this event. To view the event, visit mayor.dc.gov/live, tune in on Channel 16 (DCN), or watch on Mayor Bowser's Facebook or X.

Mayor Bowser X: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser
Mayor Bowser Bluesky: @MayorBowser
Mayor Bowser Facebook: facebook.com/MayorMurielBowser
Mayor Bowser YouTube: https://www.bit.ly/eomvideos
Mayor Bowser LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mayorbowser