The Sebastian City Council will soon discuss the possibility of establishing a cold weather shelter within the city limits.
The initiative was sparked by a proposal from the Cold Weather Committee, which Councilman Chris Nunn attends periodically.
Nunn suggested the Community Center, located at 1805 N Central Avenue, as a potential location for the shelter. He emphasized that the city’s role would be limited to providing the building, while non-profit organizations would be responsible for staffing, security, bedding, food, and drinks for overnight stays.
“There are no cold weather shelters up this way,” Nunn stated, highlighting the need for such a service in Sebastian. This winter has already seen several instances of colder temperatures, and the county is anticipating further drops, particularly on Wednesday.
Ryan W. Lloyd, Deputy Director/Chief of Emergency Management for Indian River County, confirmed the potential for low temperatures that could necessitate shelter activation.
City Manager Brian Benton will gather information from relevant non-profit organizations while the council prepares for a formal discussion at an upcoming meeting.
Nunn emphasized the minimal costs associated with operating the shelter for the city: “The only cost involved with the city running an overnight shelter is a little electricity and some space. Besides that, it costs us nothing except decency and kindness.”
