MILTON — A cold weather shelter for the homeless or heatless will open Thursday, Dec. 1 at Ferris Hill Baptist Church, 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton. Those who would like to stay at the shelter must arrive between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. No one will be admitted after 8:30 p.m. unless brought in by law enforcement. The shelter closes at 7 a.m. each morning.
Local churches operate Santa Rosa County's cold weather shelters utilizing volunteer resources and donations. They open each night when weather is forecasted to drop below 40 degrees, typically December through March. The shelters are for people who are homeless or cannot maintain heat in their home, can care for themselves, and are not at risk to themselves or others. No one may enter the shelter under the influence of drugs or alcohol, are unable to walk unaided or are disoriented.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Cold weather shelter opens Thursday night