homelessness

Felipe Nuñez finds a warm place to sleep at Getsemani Center on Friday night, January 23.

Felipe Nuñez finds a warm place to sleep at Getsemani Center on Friday night, January 23.

Nonprofits step up to provide shelter during winter storm

By ISIS AIDE REYESAs a major winter storm approached Williamson County over the weekend, nonprofits and churches collaborated to create a warming center in Georgetown, which has no official city-run center.
Brittany Wright enjoys the warmth inside  the Getsemani Center on Friday night, January 23, 2026.  With winter weather coming to Central Texas, the area’s homeless find shelter at warming centers in the area.    Photo by Andy Sharp.

Brittany Wright enjoys the warmth inside the Getsemani Center on Friday night, January 23, 2026. With winter weather coming to Central Texas, the area’s homeless find shelter at warming centers in the area. Photo by Andy Sharp.

Photos: Residents seek shelter with warming center

Nonprofits like Helping Hands of Georgetown, Navigation Services, First United Methodist Church and community volunteers — have opened a warming center at Getsemani Community Center, 412 East 19th Street, Georgetown, for those seeking shelter during the ongoing cold front.
Melvin Orsack waits for the warming shelter  to open at San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Wednesday evening, February 19, 2025.   The shelter will be open until 9 a.m. on Saturday. Photo by Andy Sharp

Melvin Orsack waits for the warming shelter to open at San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship on Wednesday evening, February 19, 2025. The shelter will be open until 9 a.m. on Saturday. Photo by Andy Sharp

Warming Shelters open in Wilco during cold snap

Georgetown's San Gabriel Unitarian Universalist Fellowship warming shelter opened Wednesday, February 19 and will be open until 9 a.m. on Saturday to help while a cold front drops temperatures into the 20s and lower 30s.  In Taylor, a similar shelter opened in St.
Georgetown Police Chief Cory Tchdia was welcomed as a guest speaker at the Georgetown Newcomers and Friends group at Wellspring United Methodist Church to talk about homelessness and mental health. (Photo by Kaitlyn Wilkes)

Georgetown Police Chief Cory Tchdia was welcomed as a guest speaker at the Georgetown Newcomers and Friends group at Wellspring United Methodist Church to talk about homelessness and mental health. (Photo by Kaitlyn Wilkes)

Community effort needed to address homelessness

Homelessness is not something that law enforcement or local government can address on their own, and Georgetown Police Chief Cory Tchida said it takes a community effort to find humane and moral solutions that can help the unhoused population. On February 6, Mr.
Members of the Wilco Homeless Coalition gathered outside the Volunteer Serving Center in Round Rock for the first annual vigil for the Williamson County Homeless Persons Memorial in late December. Photo courtesy of the Wilco Homeless Coalition.

Members of the Wilco Homeless Coalition gathered outside the Volunteer Serving Center in Round Rock for the first annual vigil for the Williamson County Homeless Persons Memorial in late December. Photo courtesy of the Wilco Homeless Coalition.

Homeless advocacy group holds service

The Wilco Homeless Coalition in late December held its first annual vigil for the Williamson County Homeless Persons Memorial.The event remembered those who have died while experiencing homelessness. Members of the Wilco Homeless Coalition gathered near the Volunteer Serving Center in Round Rock.
Wilco Homelessness Coalition volunteer shirts used for the Point in Time Count. Photo by Nalani Nuylan..

Wilco Homelessness Coalition volunteer shirts used for the Point in Time Count. Photo by Nalani Nuylan..

Counted for

 Volunteers for the Wilco Homelessness Coalition gathered at First United Methodist Church in Georgetown this past week to prepare for the group’s third Point in Time Count.
Williamson County Commissioners and representatives from food pantries across the county pose for a photo during the November 7 Commissioners Court at the county courthouse. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.

Williamson County Commissioners and representatives from food pantries across the county pose for a photo during the November 7 Commissioners Court at the county courthouse. Photo by Nalani Nuylan.

Commissioners point to hunger, homeless needs ahead of holidays

As the holidays are approaching, families are preparing their homes for the festivities: putting up the decorations, preparing the feast in the kitchen, welcoming visiting family and friends.