TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Because of those low temperatures, Hillsborough County has opened cold weather shelters.
It’s something the county does any time temperatures dip to or below 40 degrees with wind chill.
The Homeless Point-In-Time count measures the extent of homelessness every year. In Hillsborough County, it shows 1,893 people experiencing homelessness That includes 228 families and 152 veterans.
Each person has a story of their own, like William Lane. He slept at the Portico cold weather shelter in Downtown Tampa Monday night.
Lane describes homelessness in one word: hell.
“So what is everyday life like for you?”, News Channel 8 reporter Nicole Rogers asked.
“A struggle,” Lane said. “It’s like a job 24/7.”
“Until you’ve been here, you have no clue,” he continued. “Let’s just say, have you ever been to hell?”
“You’re sleeping under bridges, in cuts you in the open,” Lane concluded. “It starts raining, it’s cold.”
That is why cold weather shelters open when the temperature drops to or below 40 degrees with wind chill, offering a warm dinner, and a place to sleep.
“There will be snoring starting at 7 p.m. and it will snore all night long,” Director of Mission & Outreach Heidi Aspinwall said. “I mean, it is a hard night’s sleep because it is safe and it is warm and they know someone is watching over the situation.”
“Everyone will get a really good night’s sleep tonight and that’s gold,” she continued.
For people like Lane, who fight to survive every day, there are a few nights a year where this warm mat means everything.
“People who live outside are in a constant fight or flight state,” Pastor Justin LaRosa said. “They have so much working against them.”
“They have a lot of trauma in their lives and this provides a warm safe space with a meal that just gives them a sense of safety,” he continued.
The following shelters will be open Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Hillsborough County:
Church of God of Prophecy Hyde Park
107 S. Oregon Ave., Tampa, FL 33606
Hyde Park United Methodist Church at The Portico (preferred media location)
1001 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, FL 33602
Tampa Bay Mission of Hope
212 S. St. Cloud Ave. Building A, Valrico, FL 33594
Amazing Love Ministries
3304 E. Columbus Dr., Tampa, FL 33605
