With extremely cold weather expected on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Leon County Schools and Florida A&M and Florida State Universities have cancelled classes. And leaders of the Big Bend’s emergency shelters are urging people experiencing homelessness to come inside – or face danger from the elements.
Kearney Center Executive Director Sonya Wilson, who runs the Big Bend’s largest emergency shelter, wants unhoused people who normally sleep in encampments or in their cars to recognize that Tuesday won’t be just another cold night. It could be a life-threatening one.
“It’s not just the low temperatures, but it’s also the wind chill," she said. "People look at the temperatures -- or lows -- and they think, ‘Oh, we’re going to be okay,’ but that wind chill is going to be brutal. You cannot – especially if you have any kind of health issues – this is going to be very dangerous. So, people need to go ahead and seek shelter.”
Meteorologists are predicting freezing rain, sleet or even snow over Tuesday night. And the leaders of the Big Bend’s emergency shelters are urging people experiencing homelessness to come inside from their cars or encampments.
Wilson says the Kearney Center will be ready. She says Second Harvest of the Big Bend has stocked the shelter with food, and the staffing has been increased to make room for all in need and maintain their safety. She also says those who need public transportation to get to the shelter should do so as soon as possible – while the buses are still running.
"We’re looking to exceed numbers over 400 if people adhere to my pleas and understand that this is serious," she said. "We’ve not seen temperatures like this in a long time.”
A year ago, during the annual Point in Time Count for 2024, Leon County had 216 unsheltered individuals. This year’s Point in Time Count will be January 22nd overnight into the 23rd.
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By recommendation of local health experts and due to sustained cold night temperatures at or below 35 degrees on the above nights, local governments and community partners will conduct overnight sheltering to keep those experiencing homelessness safe.
All overnight sheltering activities will be conducted according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and in coordination with Leon County Emergency Management. Public health safety measures include socially distanced sleeping, face coverings, and enhanced sanitation practices.
Anyone needing cold night sheltering on these nights should go to the location that best represents their household composition:
- Single Adults (18 and over): The Kearney Center- 2650 Municipal Way
- Families (At least 1 adult and child): HOPE Community- 2729 West Pensacola
- Youth (ages 10-17): 2407 Roberts Ave- Hotline Number 850-576-6000
Must show up between 4pm to 8pm for intake at the specified location.
If you need assistance accessing Star Metro, please call or text our Street Outreach Coordinator at 850-759-1895 or email outreach@bigbendcoc.org.
The homeless population has been informed of cold night shelter operations via in-person communication and also a text to phone service. For those who need more information on cold night shelter planning, call the Big Bend Continuum of Care Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (850) 792-5015. For after hours or weekends, call the CESC/Kearney Center at 850-792-9000.
Cold night sheltering is made possible by the following key partners, including local governments and nonprofit agencies.
- Leon County Government and Emergency Management
- City of Tallahassee
- Leon County Health Department
- Big Bend Continuum of Care
- Connecting Everyone with Second Chances (CESC)/The Kearney Center
- Family Promise of the Big Bend Hope Community
- Capital City Youth Services (CCYS)
For more information, call Big Bend Continuum of Care at (850) 792-5015 or info@bigbendcoc.org.
