Cold weather shelter open through Saturday

Those who would like to stay at the shelter must arrive between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. No one may enter the shelter after 8:30 p.m. unless law enforcement escorts them. The shelter closes at 7 a.m. each day.

Ferris Hill Baptist Church — located at 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton — operates Santa Rosa County's cold weather shelter using volunteers and donations.

"We were open more nights in December of 2017 than any other year," said Tom Turman, coordinator of the church's cold weather shelter. "Staying open from last Thursday through this Saturday will bring us close to — if not the record of — most consecutive days."

The shelter opens each night that weather is forecast to drop below 40 degrees; typically December through March. People who are homeless or cannot maintain heat in their home, but can care for themselves and are not at risk to themselves or others, may use the shelter.

No one who is disoriented, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or unable to walk may enter the shelter.