SAN DIEGO — Mario Cotto and his fiancé Kristina Haff have been living on the streets for a long time.
"I've been on and off the streets because I have been having a hard time," said Haff.
With rain expected overnight and early Monday morning, they along with others experiencing homelessness plan to stay at the Living Water Church of Nazarene in downtown San Diego. It's one of the inclement weather shelters activated by the San Diego Housing Commission and City of San Diego.
"I'm going to this inclement weather shelter tonight because I don’t want to be out in the rain and cold and getting sick with flu, cold or pneumonia," said Haff.
Volunteer Rachel Hayes said the church will have 28 cots available for adults from 8 p.m. Sunday until 6:30 a.m. Monday. It is first come first serve.
"We lay cots out. We do hot cocoa. We offer dinner. Someone volunteers to cook a hot meal and if we can't, we do pizza. They have coffee, oatmeal and pastries and they can eat until they are full," said Hayes.
She and other volunteers stay awake through the entire night until 6:30 a.m. to make sure everyone that is staying here is safe.
"We stay awake, so they know they can have good night sleep out of the weather because people will die out there," said Hayes, who said she was homeless for for over 10 years.
Weather shelters 'very helpful'
Cotto and Haff said they are very grateful they have a place to stay warm.
"I am very thankful because if I hadn’t come to Living Water Nazarene Church, I would be having a really hard time," said Haff.
"The weather shelters have been very helpful. Very big help when it comes to being out of the cold, and being able to be indoors. A lot of the staff are very helpful. When you need someone to talk to, they will talk to you," said Cotto.
The Pastor of the Church says he is happy to lend a helping hand.
"We do our best to create hospitality and try and take care of each other. Being able to offer a place to stay is blessing for us and we hope it's a blessing for them too," said Living Water Church of Nazarene Pastor Chris Nafis.
Other places in the San Diego area are also offering inclement weather shelters. Father Joe's Villages is taking up to 61 adults at the Joan Kroc Center and up to 62 adults at the Paul Mirable Center. The San Diego Rescue Mission is taking up to 10 single women to access the top bunks.
WATCH RELATED: Data shows more homeless encampments along San Diego riverbed since encampment ban (Jan. 19, 2024)