Accelerate Orlando dedicates $44M to homeless, housing

ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando is investing more than $44 million in affordable housing and homeless initiatives.

What You Need To Know

City staff members presented the Orlando City Council updates on the Accelerate Orlando program

The program uses millions of American Rescue Plan Act funding for essential government services

A bulk of the money is being used for affordable housing and homeless initiatives 

Other services include community violence intervention, broadband access and employment training

During a workshop Monday, staff presented city council members with updates on Accelerate Orlando. The program uses $58 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding for essential government services.

While a bulk of the money is going to address homelessness, food security and affordable housing, the money will also work to help with community violence intervention ($3 million), broadband access ($4 million) and employment and training ($2.6 million). The rest of the money is used for legal matters and project management.

Some projects include Palm Gardens, a converted hotel, into 150 housing units. Residences at Blossom Trail, which staff members said is still pending sale to the developer, would create another 140 affordable housing units.

City staffers updated city council members on various homelessness initiatives, too.

The Christian Service Center is getting a revamp and would become the city’s first Comprehensive Day Center. More than $2 million is being allocated to the new Pathways Drop-In Center to help fund a larger kitchen, extra laundry services and expanded shower facilities.

The construction of a new six-story women’s and children’s center for Coalition for the Homeless would replace the existing shelter and modernize it. Two floors would be dedicated to 32 transitional housing units, according to the presentation. The proposed city contribution is $10 million.

Staff members also shared updates on ongoing projects, such as the 407 Connect buses, which have helped 44 people transition into housing since its launch.