A cold weather shelter for the homeless or heatless will open Tues., Dec. 31 at Ferris Hill Baptist Church, 6848 Chaffin St. in Milton. Guests must arrive between 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. The shelter closes at 7 a.m. each morning.
Santa Rosa County's cold weather shelter is operated by Ferris Hill Baptist Church, utilizing volunteer resources and donations. It opens each night weather is forecasted to drop below 40 degrees, typically December through March. The shelter is 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 is admitted who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, unable to walk unaided or disoriented.