Golden place for golden years

National magazine crowns Dallas-Fort Worth one of best U.S. places to retire in 2021

Snowbirds are flocking to DFW — and staying.

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Admit it: When you think of retirement hotspots in the U.S., Florida almost instantly pops into your mind. And that’s understandable, given that four cities in the Sunshine State made Travel + Leisure’s new list of the 11 best places in the U.S. for retirees.

But the Lone Star State did manage to claim one spot on the Travel + Leisure list: Dallas-Fort Worth.

“This fast-growing destination offers both a suburban and big-city lifestyle, giving retirees the option to choose a small-town feel with city conveniences nearby,” Travel + Leisure says of DFW. “Restaurants, shopping, and entertainment are readily available, plus sports fans have professional teams in football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and soccer. A range of housing is available, with property taxes considered high, even with exemptions for seniors. Texas has no state income tax.”

Travel + Leisure isn’t the only one lauding the Metroplex as a haven for retirees. DFW ranks 17th on U.S. News & World Report’s most recent list of the best U.S. places for retirees, and it appears at No. 10 on a list published in October by personal finance website DaveRamsey.com of the top U.S. cities for retirement. Meanwhile, Richardson comes in at No. 5 in Niche.com’s ranking of the best U.S. cities for retirement.

About 10 percent of Dallas-Fort Worth residents fall into the traditional age group for retirees: 65 and over. That’s below the statewide figure of 12.9 percent.

Joining DFW on Travel + Leisure’s unranked list, published February 6, are:

Ann Arbor, Michigan
Asheville, North Carolina
Fort Myers, Naples, Port St. Lucie, and Sarasota, Florida
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Manchester, New Hampshire
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Nashville, Tennessee

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In from the cold

Warming centers open across Dallas-Fort Worth during weekend winter storm

Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash

Warming centers will provide blankets and meals to those in need.

As Dallas-Fort Worth braces for brutally cold temperatures, freezing precipitation, and possible power outages this weekend, local city buildings and nonprofits are opening their doors as warming shelters. Here is a running list of places where people can go to safely warm up and rest. The list will be updated as more are announced.

Austin Street Center, in partnership with the City of Dallas and OurCalling, is activating an Inclement Weather Shelter at Fair Park’s Automobile Building, at 1010 1st Ave., Dallas, beginning at 4 pm Friday, January 23. It can accommodate 1,200 individuals and will offer shuttle service, meals, restroom facilities, blankets, and a safe, heated space for those experiencing homelessness. (Note: Austin Street's shelter location at 2929 Hickory St. will not be in operation this weekend.)

Dallas Public Libraries and Recreation Centers are open during regular hours as warming and charging stations.

The Office of Homeless Solutions provides help for unsheltered individuals in Dallas.

The Salvation Army has several warming stations available across Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton Counties. They'll provide shelter and warmth, food and drink, emotional and spiritual care, and additional supplies to anyone in need. Locations are:

In Dallas County, the Garland Corps Community Center (451 W. Avenue D, Garland) and Carr P. Collins Social Service Center (5302 Harry Hines Blvd.)
In Tarrant County, the Arlington Corps Community Center (712 W. Abram St., Arlington) and J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center (1855 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth)
In Denton County, the Denton Corps Community Center (1508 E. McKinney St., Denton) and Lewisville Corps Community Center (880 Fox Ave., Lewisville)

The City of Arlington has additional overnight shelters available:

First United Methodist Church, 407 N. Mesquite St. Open on dates when overnight temperatures reach 32 degrees or less for four or more consecutive hours.
Nations Church Arlington, 1013 W. Park Row Drive. Open continuously from noon Friday-Monday as both a warming center and an overnight shelter.
All Arlington Public Library locations and recreation centers are open to the public for warming, in designated areas, during standard operating hours.
The Arlington Animal Services Shelter accepts pets of homeless individuals as capacity allows.

The City of Fort Worth manages an emergency overnight overflow sheltering program when temperatures reach certain thresholds and regular emergency shelters are at capacity. If regular emergency shelters and beds are full when people arrive, they will be relocated to available overflow beds at one of the available additional emergency shelter locations, the city says.

They advise that individuals experiencing homelessness should first access one of the regular emergency shelters:

Union Gospel Mission (1321 E. Lancaster Ave.)
Presbyterian Night Shelter (2400 Cypress St.)
Families should go to the Salvation Army's J.E. & L.E. Mabee Social Service Center (1855 E. Lancaster Ave., Fort Worth)

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