In Jacksonville, the Legends Center will remain open overnight through Monday, February 2, providing refuge from the cold. Other shelters in the region are also stepping up in response to the severe drop in temperatures.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With the most intense cold front in ten years sweeping across the First Coast, a number of shelters, agencies, and organizations are making their facilities available this weekend to help residents escape the dangerously low temperatures and biting wind chills.
Below, you’ll find a comprehensive list of known warming shelters across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, along with their operating hours. This list will be updated as new locations become known.
The City of Jacksonville has initiated its Warming Center Contingency Plan, extending operations until Monday, February 2.
Florida
The Legends Center will serve as an overnight refuge whenever the mercury drops to 27 degrees or below. Located at 5130 Soutel Dr., the center will welcome those in need from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. each night.
Duval County
The City of Jacksonville is activating its Warming Center Contingency plan until Monday, Feb. 2.
The city will open the Legends Center overnight for people in need of shelter whenever temperatures hit 27 degrees or lower.
The center, located at 5130 Soutel Dr., will be open nightly from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.
JTA buses will provide free rides to the shelter, which will be staffed and have water available on-site.
Only service animals will be allowed in the center.
Residents using the warming center are asked to bring the following items, if desired:
- Air mattress, blankets, pillows, or other bedding
- Snacks and medication
- Games, toys, and books
- Hygiene and comfort items
All libraries and city community centers will also serve as daytime warming centers during regular business hours.
Outside of the Legends Center, the city’s nonprofit partners will provide cold-weather shelter services to those experiencing homelessness:
- City Rescue Mission, 234 W. State St.
- Mission House, 465 11th Ave., with overnight operations at St. Paul’s by the Sea Episcopal, 1150 5th St.
- Sulzbacher Center
- 611 East Adams St. – Men
- 5455 Springfield Blvd. – Women and children
- Trinity Rescue Mission, 622 W. Union St.
St. Johns County
The First United Methodist Church of St. Augustine (pumpkin church), located at 118 King Street, will open as a cold shelter at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1.
On cold nights, people in St. Johns County can call the cold night shelter hotline at (904) 819-4344 for the most up-to-date information.
Nassau County
The auditorium at the MLK Jr. Recreational Center on Elm Street is open all day on Sunday, Feb. 1, as a cold shelter.
The shelter is offered through a partnership between the Coalition for the Homeless in Nassau County and the City of Fernandina Beach any time the weather is predicted to drop below 40 degrees.
Bradford County
The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office lobby, located at 945-B North Temple Ave. in Starke, will open as a warming center for the weekend to provide those in need with relief from the cold during overnight hours.
The center will open at 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, and close at 8 a.m. Monday.
Chairs and bathrooms will be available, but no additional services will be provided.
“The Bradford County Sheriff’s Office is extremely grateful to everyone who has reached out about how to help,” Sheriff Gordon Smith said in a Facebook post. “However, at this time, we are unable to take in any additional donations, items, or food, but are thankful for the generosity of our community. If you’re interested in helping us in the future, please reach out to the Emergency Management Division during normal business hours to discuss.”
Note: Warming centers are evaluated on a daily basis based on forecasted temperatures. Continue to monitor Sheriff Smith’s and the Emergency Management Division’s Facebook pages for updates on additional openings.
Putnam County
The City of Palatka is opening a cold weather shelter at Robert H. Jenkins Northside Community and Recreation Center (1900 Napoleon St.).
The shelter opens at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 1 and closes Monday at 7 a.m.
Please note that no pets are permitted at the shelter, so individuals are encouraged to make alternate arrangements for their animals prior to arrival.
For additional information, residents may contact Community Affairs Director Eddie Cutwright at (386) 983-1254 or Community Affairs Assistant Jessica Cruz at (386) 213-0948.
Columbia County
Parkview Baptist Church (268 NW Lake Jeffery Rd.) in Lake City opened its doors Saturday night to help those escape the cold.
Check-in was at 5:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
In a social media post on Friday, the church said it also planned to be open as a cold shelter on Sunday.
Flagler County
The Sheltering Tree will be open Saturday through Monday, Feb. 2.
The shelter is operated at the Rock Transformation Center (2200 N. State St.) and opens each night at 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. the following day. It is open to anyone without heat or housing.
Bus transportation to the shelter will be provided by the county:
- McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100 at the dirt road on the east side, 4 p.m.
- Circle K at Kingswood and Old Kings Road, 4:40 p.m.
- Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s in the Dollar Tree Parking lot, 4:50 p.m.
- Palm Coast Main Branch Library, northwest corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway, 4:55 p.m.
- Bunnell Free Clinic, 703 Moody Boulevard, 5 p.m.
- Bridges United Methodist Church in Bunnell, 205 N. Pine Street, 5 p.m. (listed as the same pick-up time because of the close proximity)
Georgia
Camden County
The Camden County Recreation Center (1050 Wildcat Dr., Kingsland, Ga.) will serve as a warming center through Tuesday, Feb. 3.
It will operate nightly from 8:30 p.m. to 9 a.m.
Emergency management officials say the center is open for life‑safety only and is not a shelter.
For updates, people in need are asked to call 912-729-5602 or check the Camden County Emergency Management Agency’s Facebook page.
Glynn County
The Brunswick Fire Department announced Saturday, Jan. 31 that The Well, located at 1101 Gloucester St., would serve as a warming center overnight.
Sunday plans were not immediately released.
Ware County
Waycross City Manager Ulysses Rayford said that the Police Department courtroom will be open “throughout the week” for anyone needing shelter from the frigid temperatures, but that there are only eight cots available.
It is open from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Limited snacks will be provided.
“We are also aware that some local churches may be opening their doors to provide additional shelter; however, at this time, the City does not have confirmed locations or details,” Rayford said.
