Cold Weather Alert

Extra shelter beds, county warming centers, churches open Monday and Tuesday nights, Thursday night

Updated Monday, Feb. 23, 10 a.m. — Emergency homeless shelters, county warming centers and local churches are opening their doors this week as Central Florida temperatures drop into the 30s each night, with winds pushing the wind-chill values into the 20s.

All emergency homeless shelters in Orange and Seminole counties will expand their capacity to take in more people Monday and Tuesday mornings, and both Matthew’s Hope in West Orange and United Global Outreach in East Orange open overnight accommodations.

In addition, Orange County will open two warming centers, and Osceola County will open two churches for respite. Seminole County will provide cold weather shelter using additional space at the Rescue Outreach Mission in Sanford.

Orange, Osceola and Seminole county governments and local homeless shelters have agreed to open facilities and expand shelter capacity when temperatures are forecast to drop below 40 degrees for at least four hours. The shelters, which are normally full, open dining halls, auditoriums, gymnasiums and conference rooms to help meet the extra demand. Counties open selected recreational facilities and churches. Note that plans will be updated if the forecast changes.

Please see below for county-by-county details.

Here is the most recent information available by county:

ORANGE

  • Barnett Park Recreation Center — open 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday night — 4801 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, 32808

  • Goldenrod Recreation Center — open 5 p.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday night — 4863 N. Goldenrod Rd., Winter Park, 32792

  • Coalition for the Homeless, 18 North Terry Ave., Orlando, 32801

  • Orlando Union Rescue Mission (men only), 3300 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, 32805

  • The Salvation Army Orlando (men only), 624 Lexington Ave., Orlando, 32801

  • The Salvation Army Orlando (women and children only), 400 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, 32804

  • Matthew’s Hope, 611 Business Park Blvd., Winter Garden, 34787

  • Transformation Village (men and women) temporary shelter at former Amazing Grace Church, 17502 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, 32820. Note: A 5 p.m. shuttle will be provided from Transformation Village, 18401 11th Ave., Orlando, 32833, to the church. Meet at the Red House.

    OSCEOLA

    (Text “COLDWEATHER” to 888777 for Osceola updates)

  • First United Methodist Church, St. Cloud — open 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Thursday night — 1000 Ohio Ave., St. Cloud, 34769

  • Kissimmee First Church of the Nazarene — open 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Thursday night — 1550 Mill Slough Rd., Kissimmee, 34744

SEMINOLE

  • Rescue Outreach Mission, 1701 Historic Goldsboro Blvd, Sanford, 32771.

TRANSPORTATION

In Orange and Osceola counties, LYNX buses will offer free transportation along regular routes to people traveling to a warming center.

For residents located in suburban East Orange County, the Samaritan Resource Center will serve as a shuttle pick-up site, providing bus service to a warming center. LYNX bus pickups will occur at 4:30 each afternoon that the warming centers are open.

For residents located 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 each night the warming centers are open at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Shuttles will be available to transport overflow guests from the Coalition for the Homeless and the Salvation Army to Barnett Park’s warming center each night, running from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. as needed. Pick-ups will take place at the Coalition’s Parramore gate, 639 W. Central Blvd., Orlando, 32801, and the Salvation Army men’s shelter, 624 Lexington Ave., Orlando, 32801.

Shuttle buses will provide transportation from Barnett Park to the Christian Service Center and from the Goldenrod Recreation Center to the Samaritan Resource Center each morning the warming facilities are open.

PETS & SERVICE ANIMALS

In Orange County, secured pets are welcome on LYNX buses and at the Barnett Park and Goldenrod warming centers. Pet owners must provide carriers for cats, leashes for dogs, and are responsible for bringing food and supplies.

In Osceola, only service animals may be brought to the church shelters, where Animal Services will provide crates for sleeping. Pets should be dropped off with Osceola County Animal Services at 3910 Old Canoe Creek Rd., Saint Cloud, 34769 (407-742-8000) for temporary care during the weather emergency.

Unfortunately, churches are not able to accommodate pets, nor are the emergency homeless shelters.

Weather Emergencies

Extreme heat. Frigid cold. Looming hurricanes.

When dangerous weather is forecast, here’s where you’ll find the most up-to-date information on where to seek shelter, outreach efforts, transportation logistics, and how the media and public can help our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Below please find our regional plan for weather emergencies.