Cold weather opens shelters for those needing a warm place to stay

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. - At the Salvation Army in downtown Tampa, General Manager, Steve Vick, is busy making sure those without a home have a place to stay when the temperature drops to low temps, like last night.

"We were full. As a matter of fact we were over capacitated. We had over 200 people here last night because of the weather," he said.

People slept in the hallways on makeshift beds and passed time until the morning.

"They are able to get a good hot meal, able to clean up, get a shower and then get up the next morning have a hot breakfast and they go," he said.

They expect a repeat tonight. Temperatures are expected to drop into the low 30s in parts of Tampa Bay and into the 20s in Northern counties.

"We're getting ready for that and we will be ready tonight," said Vick.

The Salvation Army is not the only shelter in Hillsborough County open to those searching for a warm place to stay. Below is a list of shelters open in Hillsborough County.

Brandon Community Center, 510 E. Sadie St. in Brandon
This shelter opens at 5:30 p.m. and is for homeless individuals and families with children in the Brandon Area.
Phone: 813-635-8179
 
Metropolitan Ministries, 2010 N. Florida Ave. in Tampa
This shelter opens at 4 p.m. and is for families.
After hours phone: 813-209-1077
 
Salvation Army, 1514 N. Florida Ave. in Tampa
This shelter opens at 4 p.m. and is only for adults.
After hours phone: 813-221-4440
 
Jackson Springs Recreation Center, 8620 Jackson Springs Road in Town 'N Country
This shelter opens at 6:30 p.m. and is for adults and families.
Phone: 813-554-5064
 
Wimauma Community Center, 5705 Hillsborough St. in Wimauma
This shelter opens at 6 p.m. and is for adults and families.
Phone: 813-635-3500
 

Shelters are also open in Sarasota County at the following location:

Sarasota
Salvation Army - Center of Hope, 1400 10th St. Sarasota
 
Venice
Center of Hope 1216 E. Venice Ave., Venice
 
North Port/Port Charlotte
New Hope Community Church, 5600 S. Biscayne Drive, North Port, will open at 9 a.m. to serve those in North Port and Port Charlotte.