Generations United Church Opens Niceville’s First Cold Night Shelter to Protect Families and Seniors During Winter Weather

In Brief:

🧾 Who, What, When, Where, and Why

👥 Who: Generations United Church, Pastor Tommy Brown, Elder Kelli Hernandez
🏠 What: Opening a Cold Night Emergency Shelter
📅 When: Beginning winter 2025, activated when temperatures fall below 41°F
📍 Where: 108 Highway 85 N, Niceville, Florida (GroupLife Building)
💡 Why: To provide a safe, warm refuge for families and elderly residents during dangerously cold weather

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Niceville, FL — October 15, 2025 — Generations United Church has announced the opening of Niceville’s first Cold Night Emergency Shelter, a new community initiative aimed at protecting families with children and elderly residents from the dangers of freezing temperatures this winter.

Located at 108 Highway 85 North, in the church’s GroupLife Building off Niceville Avenue, the shelter will operate when local forecasts predict temperatures below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. The facility will provide safe, warm overnight accommodations, dinner and breakfast, and access to hygiene facilities and community resources for those in need.

“This shelter represents our commitment to Just One More — one more person, one more family, one more member of our community recognizing the love of Christ,” said Lead Pastor Tommy Brown. “No family should have to choose between staying warm and staying safe, and no elderly resident should face that danger alone.”

Generations United Church, which has served the Niceville community for more than 80 years, created the program to fill a significant gap in local services. Currently, the nearest cold night shelter serving families in Okaloosa County is located in Crestview, approximately 20 miles away. That shelter, the Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless, often serves families from across the county, including those from the southern communities of Niceville, Valparaiso, and Bluewater Bay.

“Families tell us they would rather stay in cars or homes without power during freezing nights than drive 30 minutes to Crestview,” said Elder Kelli Hernandez, who oversees outreach at Generations United Church. “Parents are worried about getting kids to school and making it to work on time. This shelter gives them a safe, local option right here in Niceville.”

The Cold Night Emergency Shelter will operate from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on designated nights, with activation based on weather forecasts. When temperatures are predicted to reach or fall below 41°F, the church will activate its response plan and notify the community through social media, phone lines, and local media partners.

Services offered include:

Warm, secure overnight accommodations
Personal cots and bed linens
Hot dinner and breakfast
Hygiene facilities and personal hygiene kits
A supervised environment for children
Accessibility accommodations for elderly guests
Information and referrals to additional community support services

The shelter will be staffed entirely by trained church volunteers, many of whom already participate in Generations United’s outreach programs such as meal distributions and community resource drives. Volunteers will be responsible for guest intake, meal service, overnight monitoring, and cleanup.

The church is also collaborating with existing shelters in Crestview and Fort Walton Beach to coordinate transportation for adults without children. This partnership aims to make sure no resident of Okaloosa County is left without access to shelter during dangerously cold weather.

Community members can check whether the shelter is open by:

Calling 850-678-2531
Visiting facebook.com/genuchurch
Following local weather alerts and community announcements

Generations United Church leaders said they hope the new shelter will strengthen local efforts to provide emergency relief during winter weather.

“Generations United has always tried to be a church that meets people where they are,” Brown said. “This project is about compassion in action — showing that our community takes care of its own when it matters most.”

The church encourages community members to support the program through volunteer service, donations of bedding and hygiene supplies, and financial contributions to sustain operations throughout the winter season.

For more information or to find out how to help, visit www.genuchurch.com or call 850-678-2531.