The Old Adamsville Recreation Center. Image via Google Maps.

As the weather gets colder, the city is preparing to protect the homeless and vulnerable.

The city has announced new criteria for warming center activation in freezing temperatures, including coordination and expansion of outreach and placement efforts at 40 degrees or below, and activation of warming centers at 32 degrees or below, according to city materials. Previously, activation was set at below 25 degrees or below 32 degrees with snow or freezing rain and only if partners met capacity.

“Effective immediately, the City of Atlanta will expedite resources and assistance to those seeking shelter from inclement weather,” Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said in a statement. “Thank you to our partner organizations for your collaboration and commitment to some of our most vulnerable residents.”

The following chart outlines the locations and criteria for partner warming centers throughout the city:

The city of Atlanta will open an emergency warming center in anticipation of imminent freezing temperatures. The center will be open tonight at 6 p.m. The warming center is located at the Old Adamsville Recreation Center, and transportation will be provided from Gateway. Men, women and children are welcome, according to city materials. As winter progresses, the city will continue to re-evaluate its tactics to ensure services are available to those in need.