PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — As a cold snap continues to hit Florida, advocates for the homeless in Pasco County prepared Wednesday to protect some of the community’s most vulnerable members in the event even colder temperatures blow through.

“It’s freezing out here,” said Russell Romero, who said he’s currently homeless. “Not only is it the cold weather, it’s the wind, and you’ve got the moisture in the wind. You wake up in the morning, and your beard’s got frost on it.”

Pasco County spokesperson Tambrey Laine said based on the overnight forecast for Wednesday into Thursday, the county wasn’t planning on opening warming shelters that night.

Thomas O’Connor Bruno, chief operating officer for the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, said shelters are typically opened when temperatures dip to 36 degrees or lower for a sustained four-hour period overnight.

Bruno said that happened about a dozen times last winter. The coalition is currently working to line up shelter locations for the coming season.

“Pasco County doesn’t really have any low-barrier shelters that we can access quickly,” Bruno said. “So, it’s mostly churches, faith-based, and small agencies that are willing to open their doors.”

The group Bright H.O.P.E.S. is working to keep any residents in need, including the homeless, warm. They set up a clothesline of items near the parking lot of the Walmart on US-19 in Port Richey.

Anyone is welcome to take a clothing item for free.

“I think it’s important. It’s very cold out there. If they didn’t have it, Lord knows what could happen,” said Melinda Sullivan. The clothesline is right behind Hair Obsessions, the salon where Sullivan works as a stylist.

“For the homeless, we’re trying to get us some warm clothes out here,” said Romero. “Just the little things that keeps us warm helps us out big time because, right now, it’s getting really cold,” said Romero. 

A Bright H.O.P.E.S. representative said warm clothing could either be left on the line or at a donation bin at Christo’s restaurant in Trinity.

Bruno said the coalition plans to conduct its annual point in time count of the county’s homeless in January.  About 400 volunteers are needed for the count.

Anyone interested in helping out can visit pascohomelesscoalition.org.