HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Locals in Hillsborough County are digging out their heaviest coats today as a biting chill lingers over the region. With the National Weather Service predicting a bone-chilling drop to 40 degrees or lower tonight—including a nasty wind chill factor expected to last well into the early morning hours—county officials have officially triggered their emergency cold weather shelter plan for Monday, Feb. 2.
This isn’t just for the homeless; these doors are open to anyone stuck in a house without working heat. However, there is a catch: space is extremely tight this year. Officials are urging people to check in with friends or family first if they can, saving the limited beds for those who truly have nowhere else to go.
READ: Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Scorches ‘Corrupt’ Senate As Shutdown Deadlock Deepens
If you’re heading to a shelter, timing is everything. Doors at the designated locations—including Hyde Park United Methodist, Tampa Bay Mission of Hope, and several others across Brandon, Plant City, and Tampa—open at 6 p.m. and will shut promptly at 8 p.m., or even earlier if they fill up. These sites are strictly for adults.
For parents with kids, the setup is a bit different. Metropolitan Ministries is handing out a limited number of motel vouchers so families aren’t left out in the cold. You can’t just show up for these, though; you have to call (813) 209-1176 before 5 p.m. to snag one before they’re all gone.
Stay warm out there, Hillsborough—it’s going to be a long, frosty night.
Hyde Park United Methodist Church
500 W. Platt St., Tampa, FL 33606
Tampa Bay Mission of Hope
110 S. Parsons Blvd., Brandon, FL 33511
Church of God of Prophecy Hyde Park
107 S. Oregon Ave., Tampa, FL 33606
Amazing Love Ministries
3304 E. Columbus Dr., Tampa, FL 33605
Greater New Hope Church Anointed Ministries
2104 Mud Lake Rd., Plant City, FL 33566
The Portico
1001 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, FL 33602
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
