WPTV's Caleb Holder

VERO BEACH, Fla. — As temperatures dip into the 40s — and feel even colder with the wind chill — warming shelters across the Treasure Coast are opening their doors to help people experiencing homelessness escape the dangerous chill.

At The Source in Vero Beach, about a dozen people are seeking warmth Friday night. It’s one of the few shelters in the area offering 24/7 refuge, while others open only during periods of extreme cold.

For Lea Marie, the shelter offers not just warmth — but a bit of hope.

“It is hard, you know, physically, mentally demanding,” she said.

Lea has been in and out of homelessness since 2015, spending time in cities like Washington, D.C., and Chicago before coming to Florida.

“I slept on the Blue Line train from Rosemont to O'Hare, back and

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