JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As temperatures began to plunge Tuesday, homeless shelters across Jacksonville were filling up early.
The Salvation Army also opened its cold weather shelter at 900 West Adams Street at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. It accommodates 120 people. That shelter is opened any time the projected overnight low is below 40 degrees.
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The line was down the block at the City Rescue Mission on West State Street on Tuesday afternoon as dozens of people waited for a warm dinner at the shelter.
The City Rescue Mission, which is prepared to feed 500 people every night and usually houses 200, added 100 beds in anticipation of an increase in people who will need housing overnight.
Workers from the shelter said they expect numbers to rise as it gets colder and said they will not be turning anyone away.
The mission also asked for help from the public.
"We continue to ask for blankets, socks, pillows, anything of that nature that we are able to house people for the night," said Jaime Davis, emergency services manager at City Rescue Mission.