In response to the chilly forecast in Hillsborough County, local authorities are gearing up to open cold weather shelters this evening, providing refuge for the homeless and inadequately housed. The shelters are a contingency for temperatures expected to plummet to or below 40 degrees, factoring in wind chill, for at least two hours between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m., as reported by the Hillsborough County official website.
For those in search of warmth, county officials urge first exploring options with relatives and acquaintances, acknowledging the strain of high demand on the limited capacity shelters. Hillsborough's cold weather initiative is underway with two locations opening their doors to adults in need. Tampa Bay Mission of Hope, located at 110 S. Parsons Blvd. in Brandon, and The Portico, at 1001 N. Florida Ave. in Tampa, will welcome guests from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., or until they reach full capacity.
Family units are not left out in the cold; Metropolitan Ministries makes an effort to provide for this demographic by issuing motel vouchers on a first-come, first-serve basis. It's crucial for interested families to pre-register for these vouchers by dialing (813) 209-1176. With limited availability, the phone lines are scheduled to stay open until 5 p.m. today, though they may close sooner if vouchers are quickly claimed.
