Citrus Cold Weather Shelter helps shield dozens overnight from chilly temps

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, Fla. — With cold temperatures moving into the Tampa Bay area, counties are preparing for the chill. 

That includes at the Citrus Cold Weather Shelter at Nature Coast Church in Homosassa, where about 40 people took refuge Monday night from the cold temps. 

“We open whenever the temperature drops to 40° or below, and we’re looking to be in the 30s,” said Kristy Jocelyn, shelter coordinator for Citrus Cold Weather Shelter. “They’ve put out some pretty severe warnings now.”

Inside Nature Coast Church in Homosassa, Jocelyn is stocking up on supplies, preparing the church to serve as Citrus County’s cold weather shelter.

“We don’t have an agency that is open 24/7,” says Jocelyn. “We’re in the works of hoping to get Citrus Hope open and running, but that’s not here yet. Until we do, this is vital.”

County officials said they opened sites for a few days last October, but that this is the first freeze this early in the season anyone can remember. 

Everyone taking shelter receives not just food and supplies, but also help in finding a sustainable place to live.

“When they come in, one of the things we offer is case management and doing housing assessments with them and help to put them on a waitlist for funding to help them to get into housing and off the street for government and state funding,” Jocelyn said.

According to a homeless count in Citrus last January, the county is home to 846 identified homeless people. That number is up more than 100% in the past two years, with affordable housing one of the biggest factors.

For more information on the Citrus County Cold Weather Shelter or how you can volunteer or donate, visit B.A.S.I.C.S. United inc.