ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Cold weather shelters across Central Florida are opening as the region prepares for an extended cold snap with several mornings of freeze and frost concerns.
Shelters are opening as temperatures in the area are set to plummet thanks to a winter storm sweeping into Central Florida.
This story will updated with more openings as we receive information.
Lake County
Lake County will open its cold weather shelter on Monday, Jan. 26, at LifePointe Church, located at 3551 East Orange Ave. in Eustis. The shelter will open at 5 p.m. Monday and close at 7 a.m. Tuesday.
There will be routes on LakeXpress to the shelter; “Residents may ride LakeXpress for free to the Citizens or Ardice Transfer Centers from any LakeXpress bus stop by telling the driver they’re traveling to the cold-weather shelter.”
Anyone unable to utilize LakeXpress transportation to the shelter can call Lake County Connection at 352-742-2612 before 2 p.m. Monday.
There will also be a daytime warming center at 2605 South St. from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday.
Residents can receive cold-weather resource updates by texting COLD to 888-777.
The county said it will monitor conditions and provide more updates.
Orange County
Temporary cold-weather warming centers will be available overnight beginning Monday, Jan. 26, at 5 p.m. at the gymnasiums of Barnett Park and Goldenrod Recreation.
The hours will be:
- Monday, Jan. 26 | 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 27 | 5 p.m. to 9 a.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 29 | 5 p.m. to 10 a.m.
For residents in rural east Orange County, Bithlo Community Park will serve as a transportation hub, providing bus service to the Goldenrod Recreation Center. LYNX bus pickups will occur on the following dates:
- Monday, Jan. 26 | 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 27 | 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 29 | 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
LYNX buses will offer free transportation to those seeking a warming center.
Other Homeless Services Network partner locations providing homeless services:
- Coalition for the Homeless, 18 North Terry Ave., Orlando, FL 32801
- Matthew’s Hope – 611 Business Park Blvd., Winter Garden, FL 34787
- Orlando Union Rescue Mission, 3300 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32805
- The Salvation Army Orlando (Men Only), 624 Lexington Ave., Orlando, FL 32801
- The Salvation Army Orlando (Women and Children Only), 400 West Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32804
Osceola County
Three churches in Osceola County are opening Monday and Tuesday evenings as cold weather shelters for those in need:
- First United Methodist Church, 1000 Ohio Avenue, St. Cloud, 6 p.m.
- Iglesia de Nazareno Casa de Vida, 2367 Fortune Road, Kissimmee, 6 p.m.
- Poinciana Christian Church, 3181 Pleasant Hill Road, Kissimmee, 6 p.m.
LYNX buses will provide free transportation to a cold weather shelter. Riders will need to alert the driver they will be going to the shelter.
Pets will be housed at Osceola Animal Services.
Volusia County
The Bridge at The Neighborhood Center, located at 421 S. Palmetto Ave. in DeLand, will open Monday, Jan. 26, and remain open until 8 a.m. Tuesday.
For more information about services at The Bridge, call the Neighborhood Center at 386-734-8120, ext. 601.
On the county’s east side, Halifax Urban Ministries will help coordinate cold weather shelters with local churches for Saturday evening.
“While HUM does not operate its own cold-weather shelter, it works with community partners to help connect individuals with safe, warm overnight accommodations. Those in need of shelter or transportation assistance are encouraged to contact HUM at 386-317-5886 as early as possible. When available, transportation may be arranged through VoTran in coordination with community partners.”