St. Pete's Brisk Temps Prompt Additional Downtown Shelter Space to Open

Plunging temperatures in the Tampa Bay area led to the opening of several "cold night" shelters, including the Turning Point, at 1810 5th Ave. North, an alcohol and drug rehab facility just west of downtown.  

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office announced the opening of the emergency shelters on Tuesday, as temperatures were predicted to drop to the low 30s overnight.

The shelters accept adult men and women throughout the night and close in the morning, at 6 a.m. Shelter users are given a hot meal and a warm place to stay overnight. Breakfast is served in the morning.

The shelters, in other locations in St. Pete, as well as Clearwater and Pinellas Park, are also asking for volunteers to help out. For more information, contact Michael Amidei at 727-543-2600 or Cliff Smith at 727-464-8448.

On Jan. 1, the county plans to open additional shelter space at a former jail annex next to the county jail in Clearwater. St. Petersburg officials are hoping that many of the homeless people who live in parks downtown will move to the shelter space.