Nassau County is firing up its winter warm bed hotline as the seasonal temperature drops. The program offers food and shelter to people who have nowhere else to go.

Social Services Commissioner John Imhoff said it's not limited to Nassau residents.

"If it's 10 below and someone calls right on the border line, we're not going to take a chance and risk their life out in the frigid weather, we would certainly place them." Imhoff said.

In addition to a hot meal and warm bed, the homeless are expected to meet with a social service officer in the morning.

Imhoff said the warm bed program was created to meet the increase in demand for shelter during the winter months. The hotline officially re-opened on on Thursday, and is in its sixth year of service. 

Nassau County does offer shelter service all year round, according the Imhoff, but demand is low because many homeless people sleep outside in the spring, summer and fall months. The shelters house about 400 to 500 people a night.

Nassau County Winter Homeless Hotline 1-866-WARM-BED