With an oncoming forecast of low temperatures in the next few days Charlotte, Collier, Hendry and Lee counties are coordinating with partner agencies for cold weather outreach.
Charlotte County
In Charlotte County, on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, Dec. 30 and 31, the Charlotte CARE Center (formerly the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition), 1476 Kenesaw St., Port Charlotte, will provide shelter to persons needing refuge from the cold.
Guests will need to pre-register by calling 941-627-4313 and arrive by 8 p.m.
Collier County
St. Matthew's House is opening its two shelters tonight (Dec. 30) in Collier County.
Shelter locations include:
- The Campbell Lodge on Airport Road South in Naples, (239) 774-0500 ext. 100
- St. Matthews House, 2001 Airport-Pulling Road, Naples, (239) 774-0500
- Immokalee Friendship House, South 602 West Main Street, Immokalee, (239) 657-4090
St. Matthew's House will keep the shelters open each night through January 2nd.
People planning to stay at the shelters will be required to take a breathalyzer test and are advised to check in by 8 p.m. any of those nights.
These locations, along with additional local agencies, plan to be open and meet the needs of those seeking shelter.
Hendry County
Hendry County Emergency Management, in partnership with the Clewiston Police Department and Christ the King Lutheran Church, is opening warming stations for individuals seeking relief from the cold weather.
These locations will offer a warm, safe environment, along with coffee or hot chocolate. Blankets will also be available for those in need.
Lee County
In Lee County, the county's Department of Human & Veteran Services, Lee County Transit (LeeTran) and additional partners typically coordinate plans during timeframes in which the temperature drops below 40 degrees, true temperature or with windchill, for a period of time.
Plans include:
- Tuesday, Dec. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 31: The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope, at 2400 Edison Avenue, will be open as a warming station and shelter Tuesday, Dec. 30, and Wednesday, Dec. 31: The Salvation Army will provide a limited number of single beds on a first-come, first-served basis for individuals seeking relief from cold weather conditions. Shelter will be available beginning the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 30, through the morning of Thursday, Jan. 1. Individuals in need of shelter are encouraged to arrive for intake on Tuesday, Dec. 30, between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at 2400 Edison Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901. The Salvation Army will reassess capacity on Wednesday, Dec. 31, and will continue accepting individuals as space allows.
For more information, please contact The Salvation Army at 239-789-1169. - Tuesday, Dec. 30: Housing, Outreach and Treatment (HOT) teams will be in the community connecting with individuals experiencing homelessness to provide resources and distribute cold-weather supplies, including jackets, socks, blankets and hand warmers.
- Wednesday, Dec. 31: LeeTran will provide Warming Busses at the locations listed below.
- 6 a.m. - 8 a.m., Rosa Parks Transfer Station (2250 Widman Way, Fort Myers)
- 6 a.m. - 10 a.m., Lehigh Acres Park & Ride (1121 Village Lakes Blvd., Lehigh Acres)
- 6 a.m. - 10 a.m., Cape Coral Transfer Station (820 SE 47th Terrace, Cape Coral)
- Wednesday, Dec. 31: Warming Stations will be open at the locations listed below.
- 8 a.m. - noon, Dunbar United Way Resiliency Hub at Community Cooperative (3429 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers)
- 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Tice United Way Resiliency Hub at Goodwill Industries (5100 Tice St., Fort Myers)
- 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Charleston Park United Way Resiliency Hub - Goodwill Industries (2541 Charleston Park Drive, Alva)
- 8 a.m. - 12 p.m., Harlem Heights United Way Resiliency Hub at The Heights Center (15570 Hagie Drive, Fort Myers)
- 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., West Cape Coral United Way Resiliency Hub at Goodwill Industries (1499 SW. Pine Island Rd. Cape Coral)
- 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., South Fort Myers United Way Resiliency Hub at Jewish Family Services (9701 Commerce Center Court, Fort Myers)
- Wednesday, Dec. 31: Mobile Warming Stations will be available at the locations listed below and will distribute cold weather supplies, including jackets, socks, blankets, and hand warmers.
- 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Lions Park (2550 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers)
- 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Rosa Parks Transfer Station (2250 Widman Way, Fort Myers)
- 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Edison Mall Transfer Station (4125 Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers)
- 8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., South Fort Myers Transfer Station (13182 S Cleveland Ave., Fort Myers)
Lee County Human & Veteran Services’ (HVS) Reach app, which is a free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play, is another way individuals experiencing homelessness can get information. App users should sign up to receive push alerts to receive timely updates.
Lee County’s coordinated entry phone line is always available to connect individuals to services and resources. Call 239-533-7996 or visit www.leegov.com/dhs.
Lee County Department of Public Safety’s Emergency Management staff is monitoring the cold temperatures and encourages residents to monitor updates from the National Weather Service and local meteorologists.
Sarasota County
Sarasota County Emergency Management officials have coordinated with municipal and community partners to provide cold weather shelter tonight, Dec. 30, for those individuals in need due to the predicted drop in temperatures.
The Salvation Army – Center of Hope, 1400 10th St., Sarasota, will conduct their cold weather operation plan tonight, Tuesday, Dec. 30.
Dinner will be served from 5 to 5:30 p.m. Guests will need to leave campus afterward and may return at 7 p.m. for shelter entry. Guests must be checked in by 8:30 p.m. Showers will be available from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and all guests will be required to present a valid ID for identification at check-in. Breakfast will be provided to-go in the morning, and all guests will need to depart campus by 6 a.m.
Breeze Routes 2, 7, 8, or 99 operating on normal schedules will arrive within about two blocks of the Salvation Army on 10th Street.
Visit www.scgov.net/breeze for information on Breeze services. The Breeze Rider app can also be used to check bus arrival times and plan routes.
The 100 Church in North Port will NOT be open for full cold weather shelter operations tonight, Dec. 30, but blankets and dinner will be available.
Visit www.scgov.net/breeze for information on Breeze services. The Breeze Rider app can also be used to check bus arrival times and plan routes.
Emergency Management officials remind residents that pets should not be left outside during the cold weather. Those who need to be outside overnight or during the early morning hours are encouraged to dress in several warm layers and limit skin exposure to the wind. Sarasota County Fire Department officials advise using extreme caution when heating your home, as the risk of fire and carbon monoxide poisoning increases during very cold weather due to the improper use of heating devices. More heating safety tips can be found here.
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