PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – It is going to be a cold couple of nights in Pinellas County. The Homeless Leadership Alliance has announced that cold night shelters will be open on Monday, Jan. 26, and Tuesday, Jan. 27. Officials activate these shelters whenever the National Weather Service predicts the “feels like” temperature will drop to 40 degrees or lower.
The shelters open their doors at 6 p.m. and stay open until 6 a.m. the following morning. Anyone needing a place to stay is accepted until the location is full. These sites focus on providing a warm, safe place to sleep, and many of them also serve a meal.
Getting to a shelter will not cost any money. The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) is providing free bus rides to and from the shelters on both nights. The free rides are available from 5 p.m. until 7 a.m. the next day. You do not need a ticket or a pass. When you board the bus, just tell the driver you are going to a cold night shelter, and the ride is free.
There are locations available across the county for adult men and women. In Tarpon Springs, St. Timothy Lutheran Church at 812 E. Tarpon Ave. is open. In Clearwater, you can go to First United Methodist Church at 411 Turner Street. This Clearwater location allows pets if they are leashed or contained.
Pinellas Park has two options available. The Boys & Girls Club is located at 7790 61st St. N. The other option is First United Methodist Church at 9025 49th St. N, which is another pet-friendly site.
St. Petersburg has several locations open. Northwest Church at 6330 54th Ave. N is available and allows leashed pets. Allendale Church is located at 3803 Haines Rd. N. If you are heading to the Unitarian Universalist Church at 100 Mirror Lake Drive N, be aware that this location requires the use of stairs.
The Salvation Army at 1400 4th Street South is also open, but you must have a valid ID to enter that specific site.
Families with children have a slightly different process. They will be placed in family shelters if there is space available. Families should call 2-1-1 to reach First Contact for information on where to go.
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