For Immediate Release: December 2, 2025 

Kansas City has activated the Zero KC Extreme Weather Plan, expanding emergency shelter and cold-weather support throughout the winter season. 

A total of 931 shelter beds are available across eight partner locations during frigid temperatures. Kansas City’s Division of Unhoused Solutions funds 491 low-barrier beds, and 440 beds are supported through community partnerships. 

Bed access is first-come, first-served. To secure a bed, individuals should arrive at one of the participating sites no later than 5 p.m. for the 6 p.m. intake. Unity Southeast accepts late walk-ups until 8 p.m. 

Transportation Support 
Open Doors will provide bus pickup at 4:30 p.m. in front of Hope Faith to transport individuals to their shelter location. 

Coordinated Outreach Efforts 
The Cold Weather Shelter Collaborative—made up of service providers, outreach teams, and day centers—maintains daily communication with individuals living outside to help them navigate shelter availability. The network increases outreach during periods of extreme cold to ensure people know where to go and how to access support. 

Shelter locations reflect intentional planning to support fair access, offering a balanced mix of men’s, women’s, family, and all-gender options. 

For questions about shelter operations or procedures, individuals should contact shelters directly, as processes vary by location.  

Support for Community Partners 
Organizations interested in opening warming centers to assist residents can review operational considerations here. 

Individual Support Opportunities

The City of Kansas City does not operate the cold weather shelters in the network. Individual operators are the best source for details about how to make donations.