Milton Cold-Weather Shelter Closes; Pensacola Nonprofits Propose Free Transport for Homeless Residents

Ferris Hill Baptist Church in Milton has for years served as a cold-weather shelter for homeless people when temperatures drop, but the church has stopped providing that shelter. The closure has left many homeless people in Santa Rosa County with nowhere to turn, and two Pensacola nonprofits are stepping in to fill the gap.

Opening Doors Northwest Florida and Waterfront Rescue Mission are partnering to ensure homeless people in Milton still have a warm place to sleep when temperatures fall below 40 degrees this winter. Under the plan, the nonprofits would help homeless residents of Milton get to Pensacola when the cold arrives, but the arrangement depends on Milton City Council approving the funding this week.

Bruce Cady, executive director of Opening Doors NWFL, explained the risk of cold exposure. “At 40 degrees in cooler, the human body, if it is not protected properly, starts to lose the ability to maintain body heat,” Cady said. He added that untreated hypothermia can lead to death, and that people sleeping on the street without shelter are at serious risk.

Cady said Ferris Hill Baptist Church will not be offering that service this year. He said the organization was asked to join city leaders in Milton, county leaders in Santa Rosa County and other stakeholders to develop a solution for serving those individuals.

Under the plan, Opening Doors will go out into the streets of Milton to find people who need help and inform them when cold weather is expected. The organization will then provide free transportation to Waterfront Rescue Mission on West Herman Avenue in Pensacola, where people can stay overnight. Cady said the group was already starting its activation plans, noting that the forecast showed temperatures below 40 degrees on the coming Friday night, Saturday night and most likely Sunday night.

David Crawford, who lost his home during Hurricane Isaias, said he plans to stay at Waterfront Rescue Mission when the temperature drops. “Oh yeah, it’s comfortable,” Crawford said. “You know, get a good night’s sleep sometimes.”

Milton city councilmembers are expected to discuss the item at their meeting Tuesday.

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