Jacksonville-area cold shelters to open ahead of weekend freeze

The City Rescue Mission in Jacksonville will be opening a shelter for the homeless during the cold weather this weekend starting on Saturday.

The shelter will be open Saturday Dec. 9 at 2:30 p.m. for those in need of a warm space to sleep.

Those who take advantage of the shelter will be able to stay until 10:30 a.m. Sunday or until temperatures reach 40 degrees.

CRM's staff are working to extend the space to accommodate 100 more patrons during this cold weather event.

"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.

The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida is also opening its cold weather shelter at 900 W. Adams Street on Friday. Based on the forecast, The Salvation Army anticipates that the shelter will be open through Wednesday night.

The Salvation Army in Jacksonville opens the cold night shelter when overnight lows dip below 42 degrees, providing protection and relief to homeless men, women, and families who might otherwise be out in the elements all night.

A hot dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. After dinner, guests will be given a safe and warm place to sleep for the night, and coffee and breakfast in the morning.

The Salvation Army is seeking volunteer monitors to stay at the shelter overnight. Anyone interested in helping should call 904-356-8641 and press 0 when the message starts for more information. That number can also be called for information about the cold night shelter and when it will be open.

“We’re expecting a little over 100 people tonight,” Major Burt Tanner with the Salvation Army said Friday night.

Tanner said his team is preparing itself as people in Downtown Jacksonville try to escape the cold and rainy weather.

But it’s hard to do, as the shelter runs out of space to accommodate everyone.

“There just not enough beds at any one given time, to serve, the people that have the need on the streets,” Tanner said.

Community Presbyterian Church at 150 Sherry Drive in Atlantic Beach said it will have its cold weather shelter open on Friday night. For more information, call the church at (904) 249-8698.

Cox Media Group