ORLANDO, Fla. — Low temperatures overnight across Central Florida means shelters across our area were open trying to get people on the streets out of the cold.
Even though those shelters will remain open throughout the weekend, not everyone was able to get off the streets.
As Channel 9 surveyed the downtown area early Saturday morning, many people were still on the streets.
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The 2022 point-in-time count shows 426 people are unsheltered in our community.
Loriana Jones said she was one of the hundreds of people who powered through the cold yesterday and will likely do the same when temperatures drop again tonight.
“I was outside my hands were freezing my behind off,” Jones said.
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The Salvation Army is one of several places that opened its doors and wasn’t turning away citizens in need.
“We’re just making sure we have enough beds available right now for everybody,” said Salvation Army housing manager Zander Robinett. “On normal days they would need an ID in order to get into the building but because it’s a cold night we accept everybody even if you’ve been barred from premises previously.”
Intake for the Salvation Army’s shelter began at 7 p.m. and while the shelter usually has a cut-off time, the rules were bent overnight.
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The Goldenrod Recreation Center also opened its doors at 5 p.m. and has room for about 150 people who can also come by at any time.
Channel 9 spoke to people at the Salvation Army earlier today who said the plan is to continue to welcome anyone in need through Monday at their warming shelter.
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