Cold weather shelters are opening across the Tampa Bay Area

As Florida braces for a sudden chill, emergency cold-weather shelters are opening across the Tampa Bay Area to provide safe refuge for people experiencing homelessness or without adequate heating at home.

It comes as temperatures will fall below 40 degrees into Tuesday morning, with highs Tuesday up to 20 degrees below normal.

Why are the shelters opening now

A cold front moving through the region is expected to drop temperatures well below the norm — with overnight lows near or below 40 °F (4 °C) and wind chills dipping into the 20s and 30s Fahrenheit.

Local authorities have declared a “cold-weather alert,” triggering the activation of emergency shelters for people at risk from the cold.

Where shelters are open — by county

Here’s a county-by-county list:

Hillsborough County

Shelters will be open Monday and Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. until they reach capacity.

Church of God of Prophecy Hyde Park, 107 S. Oregon Ave., Tampa

Hyde Park United Methodist Church, 500 W. Platt St., Tampa

Tampa Bay Mission of Hope, 110 Parsons Blvd.. Brandon

Amazing Love Ministries, 3304 E. Columbus Dr., Tampa

Greater New Hope Church Anointed Ministries, 2104 Mud Lake Rd. Plant City

The Portico, 1001 N. Florida Ave., Tampa

Pinellas County

Shelters will be open Monday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. until the shelter is full.

Boys and Girls Club of Tarpon Springs, 111 W Lime Street, Tarpon Springs

First United Methodist Church of Clearwater, 411 Turner Street, Clearwater

First United Methodist Church, 9025 49th Street North, Pinellas Park

Unitarian Universalist Church, 100 Mirror Lake Drive N, St. Petersburg

Salvation Army, 1400 4th Street South, St. Petersburg

Pasco County

Shelters will be open Monday and Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. each day.

Shady Hills Mission Chapel, 15925 Greenglen Lane, Spring Hill
First Nazarene Church of Zephyrhills, 6151 12th Street, Zephyrhills

Hernando County

A shelter will open Monday night from 8 p.m. to Tuesday at 8 a.m.:

Brooksville Enrichment Center, 800 John Gary Grubbs Blvd, Brooksville

A warming center at the Brooksville Enrichment Center (Brooksville) is available Monday night into Tuesday morning for those needing shelter.

Additionally, some counties are coordinating with local nonprofits and transportation services to provide meals, shower access, and other basic amenities for shelter guests.

Who these shelters serve — and how

These cold-weather shelters primarily serve:

• People experiencing homelessness.

• Individuals living in homes without adequate heat, or those who cannot stay at home safely during the cold.

• Some shelters are adults-only congregate shelters; families with children may receive motel vouchers or be referred to family-designed shelters, depending on availability.

• Volunteers and community partners — often faith-based organizations — manage shelter operations: providing dinner, a warm place to sleep, sometimes showers, and in certain locations breakfast and basic supplies such as blankets or toiletries when possible.

Because capacity is limited, organizers encourage people who have other safe housing options (e.g. stay with friends/family) to use those first.