JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With freezing temperatures forecast for several nights in a row, the Salvation Army has opened two downtown facilities as cold night shelters.
On nights when lows dip below 40 degrees, the group offers a warm place to protect those who lack shelter from the weather.
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The Salvation Army shelter at 900 W. Adams Street will remain open through Friday, providing protection and relief to homeless men, women and families who might otherwise be out in the elements all night.
“Our cold night shelter is an important service that we provide for those who would have a difficult and possibly life-threatening night exposed to low temperatures,” said Maj. Bert Tanner, Northeast Florida commander. “We will all sleep in warm beds tonight, and it’s central to the Salvation Army’s mission to make sure those without shelter can, too.”
An additional shelter will be opened at the Jacksonville Citadel Corps building at 15 E. Church St., which says “Community Center” on the Church Street side of the building. The added shelter will open at 6 p.m. Tuesday and will remain open 24 hours a day as long as the temperatures remain below 40 degrees.
Both shelters will provide a hot dinner and breakfast in the morning. The Church Street location will also provide lunch.
Only men will be accommodated overnight at the 15 E. Church St. location. Women and men are both welcome at the 900 W. Adams St. location overnight. Women and men can be accommodated during the day at 15 E. Church St.
Volunteers are needed to help with the added shelter. Anyone interested should call Mike Batiste at 904-301-4837.
City Rescue Mission
City Rescue Mission's Cold Weather Emergency Shelter is open to those in need of safe and warm shelter and will remain open each day temperatures are expected to fall below 40 degrees.
Guests seeking shelter may check-in to City Rescue Mission's New Life Inn (234 W. State St., Jacksonville, FL 32202) starting at 2:30 p.m.
All overnight guests may remain in the building until 10:30 a.m. the following morning or until temperatures rise above 40 degrees.
“We will not turn anyone away," states Jaime Davis, Manager of Emergency Services.
"We want to make sure that Jacksonville citizens without a home have warm shelter and a hot meal," states Executive Director Penny Kievet.
For more information, please contact the New Life Inn at 904-421-5167.
Sulzbacher Center
The Sulzbacher Center will open its doors to all men, women and families needing to escape the elements.
As in recent days due to the freezing temperatures and inclement weather, Sulzbacher will offer a warm place to sleep and three full meals a day to anyone needing to get out of the cold.
“Once the temperature hits 40 degrees or below, we make space available for anyone needing a warm place to stay and a hot meal,” said Sulzbacher CEO, Cindy Funkhouser.
The Sulzbacher Center has been providing this service to homeless individuals and families since the most recent cold snap began several days ago.
“We want to make sure people are aware that they can have a warm place to sleep and three meals a day to help them get through this challenging weather,” Funkhouser said.
“While the public has been incredibly supportive and generous, we can still use blankets, gently-used coats, scarves, gloves and hats. Anyone interested in donating these items can drop them off at the Center at 611 E. Adams St. or call (904) 394-8082 with questions,” added Funkhouser.