As the Tampa Bay area preps for the coldest weather it has seen since January, many cold weather shelters across the region are opening for those who need them.
RELATED: Freeze Watch in effect for parts of Tampa Bay until Wednesday morning
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
With limited capacity, Hillsborough County cold weather shelters will open tonight, Dec. 1, for the homeless and for those who live in homes without adequate heat. The National Weather Service expects local temperatures to dip to or below 40 degrees with wind chill in Hillsborough County Tuesday night.Important changes for this season: The congregate shelter will be at limited capacity to comply with social distancing recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control. Each resident who chooses to take advantage of cold weather shelters will be screened upon entry. Residents and volunteers will be required to wear a face covering while inside the shelter and will be provided one if they do not have one. Dinner and breakfast will be served in single-service containers.Hillsborough County is partnering with Amazing Love Ministries to provide a limited-capacity cold weather shelter for adults.Amazing Love Ministries
3304 E. Columbus Drive in Tampa
Opens at 6 p.m. for adults
Media interviews available at this locationA limited number of single-night motel vouchers also are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Pre-registration is required by calling the numbers below. Deadline to call is 5 p.m.Women and families can call (813) 209-1222.
Men can call (813) 209-1056.
Single men and couples without children can call (813) 402-8871.
If an organization is interested in hosting a cold weather shelter this season, please contact Julie Watkinson, Community Relations Coordinator, at (813) 276-2677 for more information.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Most of the shelters will open between 6 to 6:30 p.m. and accept guests all night. They will close at 6 a.m. (Shelters with different hours are noted below.) Guests will be provided a warm, safe place to spend the night. They will be advised if the shelters will be open additional nights.The following shelters will be available to adults:Clearwater
Dr. Martin Luther King Neighborhood Center
1201 Douglas Ave., Clearwater, 33755
Capacity: 50-60
Note: this is a one-time only shelter location for Clearwater. Hours are 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.St. Petersburg
Northwest Presbyterian Church
6330 54th Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 33706
Capacity: 50Salvation Army
1400 4th Street S., St. Petersburg, 33705
Phone: (727) 822-4954
Capacity: 25
Hours are 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.The Turning Point
1810 5th Avenue N., St. Petersburg, 33713
Capacity: 12Pinellas Park
Boys and Girls Club of the Suncoast in Pinellas Park
7790 61st Street N., Pinellas Park, 33781
Phone (727) 547-5437
Capacity: 50Tarpon Springs
Boys and Girls Club of Tarpon Springs
111 W Lime Street, Tarpon Springs, 34689
Phone: (727) 937-6837
Capacity: 30-35Families with Children
Families with children will be placed in family shelters on cold nights, if space is available. Families should call 2-1-1, Tampa Bay Cares, Inc., for information about family shelters.
HERNANDO COUNTY
Individuals that need to seek shelter from the cold may contact Jericho Road Ministries for assistance. Social distancing and the use of personal protective equipment will be implemented in accordance with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Men's Shelter Women's Shelter Mary's House'
1090 Mondon Hill Road 1163 Howell Avenue
Brooksville, FL 34605 Brooksville, FL 34601
Phone: (352) 799-2912 ext.103 Phone: (352) 799-2912 ext.109
CITRUS COUNTY
The Salvation Army will have their Cold Weather Shelter open Tuesday, December 1, 2020. The shelter will be open 7pm to 7am and is located at The Salvation Army, 712 S. School Avenue, Lecanto, FL 34461.FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED TO BE WORN WHILE AT THE SHELTERPickup/Drop-off Locations for those needing transportation:• Family Resource at Connections, 3848 E. Parsons Point Road, Hernando - pickup at 5:30pm• Winn Dixie Shopping Plaza, 3792 S Suncoast Blvd., Homosassa - pickup at 5:45pmThe driver will drop off the person at The Salvation Army Cold Weather Shelter at no cost. The person will be picked up at The Salvation Army the following morning and taken back to the same area.
