Ahead of low temperatures expected to drop in the 30s the next two nights, two cold weather shelters will open through Thursday evening for those experiencing homelessness, local officials announced Monday.
First United Methodist Church St. Cloud (1000 Ohio Avenue, St. Cloud) and Iglesia Del Nazareno Casa De Vida (2367 Fortune Road, Kissimmee) will open at 6 p.m. and provide a nighttime refuge from the cold.
Anyone interested in volunteering at either location can go to justserve.org.
County and city officials report those needing transportation to the shelter location can travel at no cost using LYNX buses by alerting drivers that they will be going to the cold weather shelter. Pets are housed at Osceola Animal Services during the operation. Any animals will need to be in a carrier before they board, unless they are service dogs.
Osceola’s cold weather shelter collaboration program is coordinated by the Osceola County Office of Emergency Management with participation from the cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud, as well as LYNX, the Hope Partnership, the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, Osceola Council on Aging, Salvation Army, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and other members of the faith-based/non-profit community.
Cold weather protocols activate when overnight temperatures are expected to dip below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four consecutive hours.
Residents can sign up for alerts on their phone by texting ‘coldweather’ to 888777.
