City Hall appears to have succeeded in sheltering the homeless in the first test of its new model to assist people when the temperature plunges.

Instead of using a central location as in past years, the city, in partnership with nonprofits, chose to house the homeless in hotel rooms and shelters last weekend when the temperature was forecast to drop below 40 degrees.

While specific figures were not available, city officials indicated that between 50 and 55 homeless people were sheltered through the weekend, some for longer.

“It went really well,” 5th District City Councilwoman Stephanie A. Lynch stated Monday. But she expressed concerned about how financially sustainable housing and feeding people in hotels will prove during the winter.

She praised the city for temporarily taking over the homeless hotline, (804) 972-0813, and ensuring it operated around the clock to take calls, something previously unavailable.

“People were able to get help,” she said.

Mayor Levar M. Stoney announced last Friday the expanded hours for the hotline, which used the help of city employees. The mayor also announced the city is providing funding to the regional homeless group to expand the hours of the hotline on weekdays and to add weekend hours.

Mayor Stoney said the city also has physical access points where people in need can contact the hotline. Those include: RVA Light, 504 W Broad St.; REAL Life, 406 E. Main St.; Offender Aid & Restoration, 3111 W. Clay St; the city Social Services Center at Southside Plaza, 4100 Hull Street Road; and the Main Library, 101 E. Franklin St.

Rhonda Sneed, leader of the homeless services provider Blessing Warriors RVA, was impressed with the city’s efforts. She and a team of workers have been distributing blankets, coats and food to people on the street, as well as serving people who are housed in hotels.

“With all the flaws, it is a big step forward,” Ms. Sneed posted on Face- book. She credited Ms. Lynch and 2nd District Councilwoman Kim B. Gray for their work to help make it happen.

Among the beneficiaries was Frizzell Stephens, 69, who was provided a room at a South Side motel near Chippenham Parkway, though he had to provide his own transportation from Downtown. Others also had to find a way to get to the hotel rooms offered.

Mr. Frizzell said he has been notified that his stay is paid through Friday.

“I haven’t heard from anyone about another place,” he said, indicating that the promise of wrap-around case services to provide direction might not be as robust as portrayed by the mayor and Kelly King Horne, Homeward’s executive director.

Mr. Frizzell slept on a bus bench in front of the city’s old Public Safety Building in Downtown for two weeks after losing his previous space. He is worried about having to return to the streets.

Sharon Ebert, the city’s deputy chief admin- istrative officer who has been managing the city’s homeless response, said efforts are being made to keep people sheltered or to move them to more permanent situations.

She stated that the Greater Richmond Continuum of Care, an umbrella organization for shelters and other nonprofits engaged in homeless services, has collectively housed a total of 750 people over time since the pandemic began in March, even when the temperature was above 40 degrees.

Ms. Ebert noted that the city and its partners “currently have the resources to properly shelter approximately 500 individuals and/or households at any given time.”

According to the city, nonprofits have about 400 shelter beds, although many of them are designated for specific groups, such as the mentally ill, victims of domestic violence, veterans or families.

Under the plan to address homelessness that City Council adopted earlier this year, the goal is to create another 250 emergency shelter units, Ms. Ebert stated.

That would replace the 150 beds the city previously maintained in its overflow shelter and add 100 beds. The homeless plan that council adopted eliminated the city’s shelter.

More beds are on the way, though it is not clear all will be available this winter. The additions include a 28-bed shelter for women that CARITAS expects to open in November at its new headquarters in South Side. CARITAS also will have an additional 120 beds for women recovering from addiction.

The Salvation Army, which operates 51 shelter beds, is approved to open at least 40 additional shelter beds at its new North Side headquarters. But the organization’s move from Downtown to the North Side headquarters appears to be on hold.