Code Blue Collaborative
Code Blue is Erie County and the City of Buffalo's cold weather emergency safety plan that provides outreach, transportation, shelter, and a warm meal to to individuals in our community who are unhoused on evenings when temperatures or wind chill falls to 32 degrees or below.
Overnight Shelters for the 2023-2024 Code Blue season are:
- Restoration Society (RSI), 586 Genesee Street, Buffalo 14204
- And soon a new location at Salvation Army, 950 Main Street, Buffalo 14202.
Day time warming center will also be open at RSI, 586 Genesee Street when daytime temperatures or wind chills fall to or below 32 degrees.
Code Blue is determined daily based on the National Weather Service forecast for Buffalo and communicated by 211 WNY. Call 211 to find out if there is a Code Blue in effect or text CodeBlueBuffalo to 898-211 to sign up for alerts.
If you are experiencing a housing emergency, apply for ongoing assistance in person at the Erie County Department of Social Services, 158 Pearl Street, first floor. After 5:00pm, you may call 211 by dialing 211 or 888-696-9211. 211 can help you find safe, temporary shelter, and then have you follow up with the Homeless Team at the Erie County Department of Social Services the next business day.
Code Blue is meant to serve individuals who are ineligible or uninterested in services from the Department of Social Services. By providing Code Blue shelters in our community, we hope to eliminate weather related deaths of individuals who are unhoused.
During the 22-23 Code Blue season, 1439 individuals were served who would have otherwise had no place to go. It also served as a refuge of last resort for many seeking shelter during the Buffalo Blizzard, including those who had lost power or heat to their homes.
If you see or know of someone who needs shelter during cold weather, call 211.
Outside of Erie County, contact 211 or local law enforcement for shelter options.
Code Blue is funded by Erie County, the City of Buffalo, M&T Foundation, National Fuel, Evans Devereux Memorial fund, and the John T. Oishei Foundation.
The Code Blue Collaborative is: Restoration Society Inc, Salvation Army, 211 WNY, Erie County, City of Buffalo, Hearts for the Homeless, St. Lukes Mission of Mercy, Niagara Frontier Transit Authority, BestSelf Behavioral Health, Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services, and the Homeless Alliance of WNY
The Code Blue Collaborative welcomes and relies on donations, including food, coffee supplies, toiletries, cleaning & laundry supplies, waterproof gloves, cold weather clothing, and footwear. Donations can be dropped of at RSI's administrative offices, 66 Englewood, Buffalo, NY 14214
You can support Code Blue by donating to the WNY Coalition for the Homeless or Restoration Society.
Overnight Shelters for the 2023-2024 Code Blue season are:
- Restoration Society (RSI), 586 Genesee Street, Buffalo 14204
- And soon a new location at Salvation Army, 950 Main Street, Buffalo 14202.
Day time warming center will also be open at RSI, 586 Genesee Street when daytime temperatures or wind chills fall to or below 32 degrees.
Code Blue is determined daily based on the National Weather Service forecast for Buffalo and communicated by 211 WNY. Call 211 to find out if there is a Code Blue in effect or text CodeBlueBuffalo to 898-211 to sign up for alerts.
If you are experiencing a housing emergency, apply for ongoing assistance in person at the Erie County Department of Social Services, 158 Pearl Street, first floor. After 5:00pm, you may call 211 by dialing 211 or 888-696-9211. 211 can help you find safe, temporary shelter, and then have you follow up with the Homeless Team at the Erie County Department of Social Services the next business day.
Code Blue is meant to serve individuals who are ineligible or uninterested in services from the Department of Social Services. By providing Code Blue shelters in our community, we hope to eliminate weather related deaths of individuals who are unhoused.
During the 22-23 Code Blue season, 1439 individuals were served who would have otherwise had no place to go. It also served as a refuge of last resort for many seeking shelter during the Buffalo Blizzard, including those who had lost power or heat to their homes.
If you see or know of someone who needs shelter during cold weather, call 211.
Outside of Erie County, contact 211 or local law enforcement for shelter options.
Code Blue is funded by Erie County, the City of Buffalo, M&T Foundation, National Fuel, Evans Devereux Memorial fund, and the John T. Oishei Foundation.
The Code Blue Collaborative is: Restoration Society Inc, Salvation Army, 211 WNY, Erie County, City of Buffalo, Hearts for the Homeless, St. Lukes Mission of Mercy, Niagara Frontier Transit Authority, BestSelf Behavioral Health, Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services, and the Homeless Alliance of WNY
The Code Blue Collaborative welcomes and relies on donations, including food, coffee supplies, toiletries, cleaning & laundry supplies, waterproof gloves, cold weather clothing, and footwear. Donations can be dropped of at RSI's administrative offices, 66 Englewood, Buffalo, NY 14214
You can support Code Blue by donating to the WNY Coalition for the Homeless or Restoration Society.
