FLORIDA — As a cold front approaches, Central Florida counties are preparing to keep residents safe.

Forecasters predict temperatures will plunge into the 30s and 40s at various times Monday overnight through Friday

BREVARD COUNTY

In Brevard County, several cold weather shelters opened Tuesday, Jan. 7 to people who need a safe and warm place to stay.

The Central Brevard Sharing Center's Cold Night Shelter is open at 113 Aurora St. in Cocoa. It has been hosting a cold night shelter for more than 20 years.

Other shelters are being offered by Lifepointe Ministries in Titusville, at the Joseph N. Davis Community Center in Melbourne, at Matthew's Hope at 825 Forrest Ave., in Cocoa and by Helps Community Initiative at Peace Lutheran Church in Palm Bay.

FLAGLER COUNTY

In Flagler County, the Sheltering Tree will open its cold-weather shelter Friday and Saturday nights at the Rock Transformation Center for anyone who needs a safe and warm place to stay.

The county will also provide bus transportation:

East side of the county

  • Dollar General at Publix Town Center on Market Avenue (leads to Dollar General), 3:30 p.m.

  • McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100 at the dirt road on the east side, 4 p.m.

  • Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s in the Dollar Tree Parking lot, 4:30 p.m.

  • Palm Coast Main Branch Library, northwest corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway, 4:45 p.m.

West side of the county

  • Dollar General at County Road 305 and Canal Avenue in Daytona North, 4 p.m.

  • Bunnell Free Clinic, 703 Moody Blvd., 4:30 p.m.

  • Bridges United Methodist Church in Bunnell, 205 N. Pine St., 4:30 p.m. (listed as the same pickup time because of the close proximity)

The Rock Transformation Center is located at 2200 N. State St. It will open at 5 p.m. each night and close at 8 a.m. the following day.

For more information, call 386-437-3258. 

LAKE COUNTY

Lake County will open a cold-weather shelter from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday, Jan. 6 through Friday at LifePointe Church in Eustis for people who do not have a warm and safe place to stay.

The Salvation Army also will open a warming station outside of shelter hours at 2605 South St., in Leesburg. The warming station hours will be from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

Residents who need help with transportation can call Lake County Connection at 352-742-2612 to arrange for a ride. 

The cold weather shelter is located at 3551 East Orange Ave., in Eustis. For more information, visit https://ridelakexpress.com/shelters. 

ORANGE COUNTY

South Econ Recreation Center Gym
(Adjacent to the Renaissance Senior Center)
3800 S Econlockhatchee Trail
Orlando, FL 32829
Opens Monday at 7:00 p.m. and closes Tuesday morning at 08:00 a.m.
***Opens Tuesday night at 5:00 p.m. and will close Wednesday morning at 08:00 a.m.

Barnett Park Recreation Center Gym
4801 W Colonial Drive
Orlando, FL 32808
Opens Monday at 7:00 p.m. and closes Tuesday morning at 08:00 a.m.
***Opens Tuesday night at 5:00 p.m. and will close Wednesday morning at 08:00 a.m.

Regional LYNX buses will provide free rides for individuals seeking transportation to Homeless Services Network shelters.

Matthew's Hope is also opening both Orange and Brevard locations to the homeless at 8 a.m. on Tuesday through Friday morning. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and bedding will be provided. Showers are required, and limited personal items are allowed. 

  • Orange County
    • 611 Business Park Blvd., Winter Garden 
    • 407-905-9500 (ext. #1)
  • Brevard County
    • 825 Forrest Ave., Cocoa
    • 407-905-9500 (ext. #2)

OSCEOLA COUNTY

With a severe drop in temperatures arriving this week, two cold weather shelters will open Tuesday and Wednesday evening for those experiencing homelessness, it was announced Monday.

The following locations will open at 6 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

  • First United Methodist Church St. Cloud (1000 Ohio Ave., St. Cloud) 
  • Iglesia Del Nazareno Casa De Vida (2367 Fortune Road, Kissimmee)

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.

VOLUSIA COUNTY

In Volusia County, the Bridge at The Neighborhood Center in DeLand will open nightly starting Monday, Jan. 6, through Wednesday, Jan. 8. The shelter, at 421 S. Palmetto Ave., will open at 6:30 p.m. each night and close at 8 a.m. the following mornings. Breakfast will also be served. For more information on services, call The Neighborhood Center at 386-734-8120. 

On the county's east side, Halifax Urban Ministries will coordinate shelter services with local churches on the same nights. Anyone needing shelter or transportation services can call HUM at 386-317-5886.