As temperatures in the Texas Panhandle remain unpredictable, a crucial emergency shelter for the unhoused has been forced to close, leaving many without a safe place to escape the cold. The City of Amarillo has ordered Amarillo Housing First (AHF) / Code Blue Warming Station to cease operations at its current location due to a lack of a Certificate of Occupancy (CO)—a bureaucratic hurdle that now threatens the safety of those who rely on the shelter’s services.
While city officials emphasize safety and compliance with building codes, the sudden closure has left service providers scrambling for alternatives and raised concerns about bureaucratic obstacles hindering efforts to assist the unhoused.
Enforcement of Building Code Halts Shelter Operations
On Tuesday, March 12, Amarillo officials issued a notice of violation to AHF’s facility at 207 N Tyler, stating that the organization must cease all activities inside the building until the required CO is obtained.
Virginia Williams Trice, executive director of AHF, said she was initially given until March 18 to comply. However, after further discussions, Building Official Johnny Scholl extended the deadline to April 14—though the building must remain unoccupied in the meantime.
This decision effectively shuts down the Code Blue Warming Station for the remainder of the winter season.
“The building will not be able to host Code Blue Warming Station until all of this is accomplished,” Trice stated. “We have approximately five weeks remaining of winter weather potential.”
While Amarillo has recently experienced milder temperatures, Texas weather is known for its unpredictability. A sudden cold snap, freezing rain, or high winds could endanger those without shelter—especially the elderly and individuals with medical conditions.
Services Continue Outdoors as AHF Seeks Solutions
Despite the closure of the building, Trice and AHF staff have refused to halt their work. Rather than moving operations indoors, they have been meeting clients in the parking lot, continuing to provide assistance with identification, case management, and housing applications.
“I have appointments scheduled all the way through next week, and I’m still going to be meeting those people, even if that means I’m meeting them, you know, standing in the freaking parking lot,” Trice said. “We’re not going to stop working with people.”
To mitigate the impact of the closure, AHF is looking for alternative office space. One possibility is the Guyon Sanders Resource Center, which may provide a temporary meeting space for casework. However, a long-term solution for the warming station remains unclear.
Barriers to Compliance: Cost and Time
Obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy is not as simple as filling out paperwork. The AHF building lacks up-to-date architectural plans, which are a mandatory component of the application process.
“The City Marshal and Building Official said Amarillo Housing First or the landlord need to obtain an architect to make plans and submit an application for a Certificate of Occupancy,” Trice explained.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has offered financial assistance to help hire an architect, but the process will take time. After plans are submitted, the building must undergo multiple inspections to ensure compliance with fire codes, electrical standards, emergency exits, and structural safety.
According to city officials, some parts of the building do not meet modern safety standards, which means renovations may be required before the CO is issued. The extent of these repairs—and their cost—is still unknown.
City of Amarillo: Safety Is the Priority
Amid growing concerns, the City of Amarillo released a statement explaining the decision to enforce the CO requirement, emphasizing public safety and compliance with local regulations.
“The City of Amarillo is committed to ensuring safe shelter options for our unsheltered population, especially during extreme weather. Recently, we identified that the Code Blue facility does not have a Certificate of Occupancy (CO), a critical requirement to verify basic safety standards, including fire protection, exits, and utilities,” the statement read.
The city further highlighted alternative shelter options, including the old City Hall building, which has been repurposed as an emergency cold weather shelter. However, some advocates have pointed out that many unhoused individuals are unaware of this option, and others may feel uncomfortable staying in a government-run facility.
“Building codes exist to protect lives, and we will continue working collaboratively to uphold safety while ensuring those in need have access to shelter,” the statement concluded.
Impact on the Unhoused Community
For the hundreds of unhoused individuals in Amarillo, the sudden shutdown of Code Blue has disrupted a critical lifeline.
Trice also noted that the city had stopped sending notifications about Code Blue activations through the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) since it opened the old City Hall shelter.
For many of the chronically unhoused, finding shelter is not just about staying warm—it is a matter of basic survival. Those without reliable transportation or access to up-to-date information may struggle to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of emergency services.
Adding to the frustration, Trice has seen misinformation spread online, with some accusing the city of deliberately targeting AHF. While she understands the anger, she has chosen not to engage in social media debates, fearing it could discourage clients from seeking help.
“[A social media commenter] is posting that ‘they shut down Code Blue, they’re shutting down Amarillo Housing First.’ They’re shutting down our building: I’m still doing all the stuff today that we’re supposed to do with clients,” she said.
Looking Ahead: What Comes Next?
As AHF works toward compliance, the organization is seeking community support to fund necessary upgrades and secure temporary meeting space.
Meanwhile, advocates and local organizations are urging city officials to find a short-term solution that will allow Code Blue to operate before another cold snap arrives.
With March and early April still bringing the potential for freezing temperatures, the coming weeks will determine whether Amarillo can balance regulatory enforcement with the urgent needs of its most vulnerable residents.
