DeKalb County has announced the opening of several warming centers in response to forecasted freezing temperatures and hazardous wind chills. The centers will operate overnight starting at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 15, and Saturday, January 17, continuing through Monday, January 19, 2026.
The county-operated locations for overnight shelter on January 15 and January 17 include Exchange Park Intergenerational Center in Decatur, Frontline Response International in Atlanta, St. Vincent de Paul in Chamblee, and Mason Mill Recreation Center in Decatur (Thursday only). Mason Mill will not be available on January 17th, 18th or Monday the 20th.
From January 17 through January 19, Frontline Response International and Exchange Park Intergenerational Center will provide round-the-clock shelter. St. Vincent de Paul will offer this service on Saturday and Sunday before returning to overnight operations only on Monday.
Community partners are also providing additional support. New Life Community Alliance Warming Center at Flat Shoals Road in Decatur offers nightly shelter from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., with a capacity for up to 35 individuals. Tucker First United Methodist Church Cold Weather Refuge is open for both men and women from January 15 and again from January 17-20 at its Activities Center location on Church Street in Tucker. Guests receive health checks, hot meals, cots, showers, laundry access, and arrangements can be made for families with children.
Transportation services are coordinated by Frontline Response International with multiple pickup routes across North DeKalb/Chamblee-Tucker; Central/Decatur/Emory; East/Stone Mountain/Candler; and South Central/Memorial Dr/Wesley Chapel areas. Pickups begin as early as just after six o’clock each evening with final sweeps concluding by ten o’clock.
Frontline Response International is contracted by DeKalb County to serve those seeking assistance during extreme weather conditions. “Individuals may arrive directly at Frontline HQ beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday for assistance with warming center placement and additional services,” according to the county’s announcement.
For those needing help with transportation or coordination related to warming centers or walk-in options at Frontline Headquarters (2585 Gresham Rd SE), contacts have been provided for further assistance.
More information about these resources is available at www.dekalbcountyga.gov/weather.
In other local developments concerning DeKalb County schools: Enrollment declined by approximately two percent during the last academic year while total enrollment stood at over ninety-eight thousand students (https://www.gadoe.org/). White students accounted for fourteen percent of the student body during that period (https://www.gadoe.org/).
