Seminole County opens cold-weather shelters as WFTV, FOX 35 report varying lists

Seminole County and neighboring jurisdictions moved to protect unhoused residents and others at risk as an Arctic cold snap pushed overnight lows into the 20s and 30s and prompted a Cold Weather Advisory across parts of Central Florida. County and nonprofit partners announced temporary sheltering in multiple counties, but published schedules differ between local newsrooms and operators, leaving some confusion for those seeking warmth.

FOX 35 reported that Seminole County has not released hours for this weekend; no specific Seminole shelter addresses or nightly windows were included in the available excerpts. WFTV noted local lists of warming centers and cautioned readers that “This list will be continually updated.” Those seeking definitive Seminole schedules should contact Seminole County Emergency Management for confirmation.

Across Central Florida, reporting by WFTV, FOX 35, MyNews13 and ClickOrlando recorded openings and hours for a patchwork of county and faith-based sites. Orange County named Barnett Park Recreation Center and Goldenrod Recreation Center gymnasiums as temporary warming centers, and WFTV published Salvation Army Orlando locations at 624 Lexington Ave. for men and 400 West Colonial Drive for women and children. WFTV also indicated Orange County added Wednesday, January 28 to its warming center schedule.

Osceola County listings vary by outlet. WFTV reported, “Cold weather shelters will be open in Osceola County on Jan. 26 and Jan. 27… The shelters will operate from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. each night.” FOX 35 gave a longer run, saying the Osceola sites open at 6 p.m. on the evenings of Monday, Jan. 26 through Thursday, Jan. 29, and ClickOrlando added that several churches planned operations Saturday, Jan. 31 through Monday, Feb. 2. Named locations include First United Methodist Church at 1000 Ohio Ave., St. Cloud; Iglesia del Nazareno Casa de Vida at 2367 Fortune Road, Kissimmee; and Poinciana Christian Church at 3181 Pleasant Hill Rd., Kissimmee.

Volusia County’s The Bridge, operated by The Neighborhood Center at 421 S. Palmetto Ave., DeLand, is accepting guests in the evenings. WFTV initially listed operations Jan. 26–28 while FOX 35 reported The Bridge would remain open nightly through Sunday, Feb. 1, with arrivals beginning at 6:30 p.m. and departures near 8 a.m. breakfast provided. LYNX is offering free rides to shelters; riders may “board any LYNX bus and inform the driver” they are heading to a shelter for complimentary transportation.

Other county specifics include Brevard opening LifePoint Ministries at 4220 S. Hopkins Ave., Titusville, and Matthew’s Hope at 825 Forrest Ave., Cocoa; Lake County’s LifePointe Church at 3551 E. Orange Ave., Eustis, activated for Jan. 26–29 with meals and overnight closing at 7 a.m.; Flagler’s Sheltering Tree operating at Rock Transformation Center, 2200 N. State St.; and Sumter’s Refuge at Jumper Creek, 4912 S.E. 7th Dr., Bushnell, opening some nights from 5 p.m. to 9:30 a.m. with hot meals, sleeping bags and mattress pads. For some sites the Salvation Army in Leesburg at 2605 South St. will provide daytime warming and overnight shelter on select dates; the Salvation Army Leesburg number listed in local reports is (321) 383-0254. For regional scheduling questions MyNews13 and FOX 35 cited 386-437-3258 for additional information.

Osceola also provided a pet logistics note: animals will be housed at Osceola Animal Services and must be in a carrier unless they are service dogs. FOX 35 advised residents can sign up for county cold-weather alerts by texting ‘COLDWEATHER’ to 888777.

What this means for Seminole County readers is practical and immediate: warming options exist across the region but schedules and nights of operation changed as agencies updated plans. If you or someone you know needs shelter, call local emergency management or shelter operators for the most current hours, use the LYNX free-ride option to reach sites, and follow the posted guidance for pets and service animals. Local newsrooms and agencies were updating lists as conditions evolved, so expect schedules to shift as the cold snap moves through.