With a significant drop in temperatures expected across Central Florida, Osceola County officials have announced the activation of cold weather shelters to provide overnight relief for individuals experiencing homelessness or those without adequate heating.

Cold weather shelters will open the evenings of Thursday, January 15; Friday, January 16; and Sunday, January 18, following established community protocols when overnight temperatures are forecast to fall below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for more than four consecutive hours.

Three faith-based locations will open their doors beginning at 6 p.m. each evening to offer a safe, warm place to sleep:

  • First United Methodist Church St. Cloud
    1000 Ohio Avenue, St. Cloud

  • Iglesia Del Nazareno Casa De Vida
    2367 Fortune Road, Kissimmee

  • Poinciana Christian Church
    3181 Pleasant Hill Road, Kissimmee

Community partners, including faith-based groups and local nonprofits, are also conducting outreach in areas where individuals experiencing homelessness are known to congregate, helping spread awareness of shelter availability and assisting with transportation coordination.

Transportation to shelters will be available at no cost via LYNX bus service. Riders needing shelter should inform the bus driver they are traveling to a cold weather shelter. Pets are also accommodated during shelter operations, with animals housed at Osceola Animal Services. Pets must be in a carrier prior to boarding, unless they are certified service animals.

Osceola County’s Cold Weather Shelter Collaboration Program is coordinated by the Osceola County Office of Emergency Management, with participation from the Cities of Kissimmee and St. Cloud, LYNX, Hope Partnership, Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, Osceola Council on Aging, The Salvation Army, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, and additional faith-based and nonprofit organizations.

Residents can receive cold weather shelter alerts directly on their phones by texting COLDWEATHER to 888777.

Officials are also reminding the community to follow “The Five Ps of Cold Weather Preparedness”:

  • Protect People

  • Protect Pets

  • Protect Pipes

  • Protect Plants

  • Practice Fire Safety

Residents are urged to use safe heating sources indoors, keep space heaters away from flammable materials, and avoid using fuel-burning devices such as grills inside homes, as they can release deadly carbon monoxide. Pet owners are encouraged to bring vulnerable animals indoors or provide adequate warm shelter, while homeowners should take precautions to protect pipes and plants from freezing temperatures.

For more local updates and community resources, stay connected with Positively Osceola.