ORLANDO, Fla. —Emergency shelters are opening their doors for those needing a warm place to stay while Central Florida is experiencing chilly temperatures.
What You Need To Know
- Emergency shelter are opened are various places
- Go here for a list of Salvation Army shelters
- RELATED: A cold, frosty Monday morning is ahead for Central Florida
The Salvation Army is offering overnight shelter for men and women looking to get out of the cold.
The big message is, just because there isn’t snow or ice, it doesn't mean there isn't a big need for cold weather shelters.
Overnight in parts of Central Florida, there was a frost advisory, and that is why many shelters are opening their doors.
The Salvation Army Men's Shelter is at 624 Lexington Ave., and the Salvation Army Women and Children's Shelter is at 400 West Colonial Drive – both in Orlando.
People can check-in for the night starting at 4:30 p.m.
There are tents set up for overflow sheltering, which the Salvation Army has had since the onset of COVID-19, to allow for more social distancing.
With these in place, the shelter usually houses 50 or 60 additional people when the temperature falls.
The overflow emergency shelter opens up when the temperature drops to near 40 degrees.
"Our temperate climate year-round usually attracts more homeless because it's easier to sleep out on the street than it is in places up north. So, cold is a relative term here in Central Florida. You know, our blood kind of thins out when you live in Florida. So we want to make sure we keep everyone safe from the elements," said Capt. Ken Chapman, area commander of the Salvation Army in Orlando.
There is also a soup kitchen through the Salvation Army, which serves daily meals from the men's shelter from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., every day of the year.
The Salvation Army stated the emergency shelter will be open Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday night. The shelter could be open beyond that, but officials are waiting to see just how those temps look later in the week.
- St. Cloud First United Methodist Church Address: 1000 Ohio Ave, St Cloud
This shelter is supported by St. Cloud First United Methodist Church Hope Partnership and the Osceola County Office of Emergency Managemen
- Ramada Kissimmee Gateway (50 rooms currently available)
Address: 7470 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, Kissimmee, Fl. 34747
Check-in Time AKA Intake-in Time: 3:00 -6:00 pm- ** No one will be able to check-in until after all documents have been completed. Once completed, the client will be given a “voucher,” which they can provide to the front desk at the Ramada to check-in. Check-out Time: 10:00 am on 1/24/2022. A bag of food will be provided at intake. Pets are allowed at both cold night shelter locations. They will have an intake process to gather information about each person to assist in both payment reimbursements and the regional housing efforts.