BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 For the first time since January, Matthew\u2019s Hope is opening its cold weather shelters in both Brevard and Orange counties as temperatures drop overnight.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, tonight, the little scary thing about tonight is going to be that the temperature is going drop very heavily after dark,\u201d said Pastor Scott Billue, founder of Matthew\u2019s Hope.<\/p>\n
Before sunrise, the homeless ministry was already delivering warm clothes to those in need. By afternoon, buses were dispatched to bring people back to the Cocoa campus for the night.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast time we opened at this location and my other location in Orange County, we both had about 125 people,\u201d Billue said. \u201cBut we\u2019ve grown about 35% since last year… this whole floor will be covered in cots.\u201d Guests will receive hot meals, showers, and warm bedding, and if space runs out, Billue says the team will make room \u2014 even if it\u2019s on a shelter bus equipped with beds and charging stations.<\/p>\n
Shelter guest Theodore Adderley said he\u2019s grateful for the help. \u201cThey offered me a place to stay out of the cold at night. And I thought sure, I\u2019ll give it a try. It is going to be kind of cold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s Hope anticipates keeping its temporary cold weather shelters open through Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
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