Partnering with the City of Austin for a Cooling Center

For the last few summers, many of us have witnessed – and tried to help – as our unhoused neighbors grappled with rising heat levels. As people called “to love our neighbors,” we’ve struggled with ways to do more. 

In the Fall of 2023, we had a chance to do more. For that reason, Trinity Center and St. David’s Church sought to work in partnership with The City of Austin to secure funding for a new cooling center in Downtown Austin. The result of our efforts is that the City of Austin has helped to fund the Trinity Center Inclement Weather Cooling Center Pilot Project.

With this funding, the diligent work of Trinity’s staff, board and volunteers, and the efforts of St. David’s staff, donors and volunteers, this cooling center pilot project is now open at Trinity Center weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through September 30. It provides more than 60 people per day relief from unrelenting heat. It is serving as an invaluable and life-changing resource.

In addition to helping our unhoused neighbors make it through this extreme weather, this Cooling Center Pilot Project is important in other significant ways: 

• The success of this pilot project could bring additional City of Austin or government resources to help our unhoused community during inclement weather. The unhoused community is often among the most impacted by extreme weather events -- especially rising heat levels. Since there continues to be an inadequate number of shelter beds, there must be places for people to go during weather emergencies.
• If the Trinity Center Inclement Weather Cooling Center Pilot Project is successful, the City of Austin will consider replicating this type of funding for cooling centers in other areas of Austin in small not-for-profit organizations or churches.

To ensure the success of the Trinity Center Inclement Weather Cooling Center Pilot Project, we will need community support. You can help by:   

• Sign up here to volunteer at the Cooling Center
• Drop-off summer clothing. Donation bin in St. David’s Church lobby. (Men’s shorts and pants are especially needed.)
• Contribute warm weather supplies listed on Trinity Center’s Amazon Wish list
• Donate to Trinity Center directly – any level of gift is appreciated!

For more information, contact Carter Lee, Program and Operation Services Manager of Trinity Center Cooling Center, at or Manuela Arango, Trinity Center’s volunteer coordinator, at