A bus that will offer an overnight refuge for homeless residents of western Orange County could hit the roads by April now that nonprofit Matthew’s Hope has secured funding and one location where it can park — although more are needed.
County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved $787,560 for a one-year contract — and up to four one-year renewals — with the organization to purchase and operate the sleeper bus. Commissioners also authorized an advance payment of $190,000 to fund buying and equipping it.
“I believe that we’ll be wheels on the ground by the end of the first quarter of next year,” said Scott Billue, founder and CEO of the homeless outreach nonprofit with locations in Winter Garden and Cocoa. “I’ve already been through all this (and) I’ve got so many things lined up.”
Billue said he expects to receive the initial funds from the county within two weeks. But because Matthew’s Hope already has two buses operating in Brevard County — with a third almost ready — he said he has relationships with vendors that allow him to get it into production right away.
The bus won’t make a big dent in the county’s estimated 2,000-plus homeless population — with hundreds in Apopka alone. But the city’s participation is significant because local leaders have tried, and mostly failed, to create new shelter space. The issue became more acute after a state ban on overnight camping in public places took effect last year — something Billue and others call an attempt to criminalize homelessness.
The bus will have capacity to sleep 20 people while offering them access during the day to case management and other services provided by the organization with goals of moving them toward lives of independence and self-sufficiency.
Scott Billue is founder and CEO of the nonprofit Matthew’s Hope, which has locations in Winter Garden and Cocoa. (Provided by Scott Billue)
“My feelings are I’m here to help you help yourself,” Billue said. “We can’t do it for you, we can’t want it more than you.
“But the other side of it is, if you are physically or mentally incapable of caring for yourself, we then want to do what we can to improve your quality of life.”
He said the county’s financial backing, along with Apopka’s commitment to host the bus, should help convince others — such as churches, towns and cities — to provide overnight parking spots: “Nobody likes to be first.”
And although using buses can help to overcome the neighborhood opposition common with permanent shelters, Billue said finding locations to park them temporarily remains challenging — the Brevard program has four so far. He’d like at least three more Apopka sites along with others throughout the western part of the county.
County Commissioner Nicole Wilson, who represents District 1 where Matthew’s Hope is located, said she’s pushing for a change to county zoning laws to allow for parking of buses and other mobile structures supporting homeless shelters and transitional service providers. Although she’s uncertain how long the process will take, she’s optimistic it’ll get done.
“I would hesitate to assert that we are going to able to zoom anything through, but I feel pretty strongly that with the investment that we’ve made that we were in full agreement on in regards to homeless services, that there shouldn’t be disagreement,” Wilson said.
Just like those serving Brevard, Billue said Orange’s bus will have individual sleeping areas called pods — walled on three sides with a privacy curtain along the aisleway — each with the ability to adjust air conditioning, a cellphone charging station and a pocket to hold some personal items. Additional belongings will be stored in an air-conditioned area underneath which will have specialized crates for pets.
Billue said once the bus is up and running, people can make reservations for up to three consecutive nights through Matthew’s Hope — an app is in development. The bus will pick up people at designated locations then head to the parking spot. It will typically spend three nights at one location before moving to another.
A pod on one of the sleeper buses in use by the nonprofit Matthew’s Hope in Brevard County. A bus planned for use in Orange County will have the same sleeping accommodations. (Courtesy of Matthew’s Hope)
Cameras and trained security guards monitor occupants and the bus is cleaned and bed linens changed daily, he said. Anyone allowed on will have had a background check all Matthew’s Hope clients go through — those convicted of sexual or violent offenses are prohibited.
The county expects the bus to serve an average of 200 homeless individuals monthly. Additionally, Matthew’s Hope will offer bus guests access to daytime services at its Winter Garden location including case management, showers, hygiene items, a food pantry and ongoing medical care.
The Apopka City Council in June unanimously adopted an agreement allowing Matthew’s Hope to park the bus at rotating locations in the city. Commissioners have only approved one so far — behind the city’s compressed natural gas facility at 320 E. 8th St.
During Wednesday’s council meeting, Mayor Bryan Nelson told commissioners the county had approved funding for the bus and he plans to reach out to local churches about overnight parking. He encouraged anyone with suggestions about possible locations to reach out to his office at 407-703-1700 or to email BNelson@apopka.net.
“We’re looking to the future, not waiting on everything to come to us,” he said after the meeting. “Everybody wants to be second, nobody wants to be first.”