ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida’s camping ban has made it harder for people living on the streets to find a place to sleep at night, as officers are now stepping in.
However, a recent grant from the city of Orlando is continuing to fund a program with Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida to provide a safe space to sleep for at least one night.
What You Need To Know
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida received a $150,000 grant from the city of Orlando
The money will continue the shelter’s partnership with the Orlando Police Department
Officers drop off people they believe are in dangerous situations or breaking Florida’s camping law, providing them a safe night’s sleep instead of taking them to jail
The funding will be used for overnight stays, meals, and hygiene kits, according to shelter staff
According to the city agenda, officers will drop off individuals or families at the shelter, located at 18 N. Terry Avenue. They will fill out an “OPD Drop Off Form,” pass a security check, and be admitted to the proper facility.
The Coalition has separate buildings for single men and women and children. Families can stay together in one dorm.
“We are able to make accommodations to bring those individuals and families in, get them off the streets, into a safe shelter, that way the following morning we can direct them to our intake and diversion center to provide them programs and resources,” said Trinette Nation, director of development for Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
Through a partnership with the Orlando Police Department, officers drop off people experiencing homelessness they feel are in a dangerous situation.
Criteria includes anyone officers believe are victims of domestic violence or sexual battery, families sleeping in a car they believe are in danger, families with children found on the street, or those being faced with arrest for breaking the public camping ordinance.
“Last fiscal year, we only did 161 drop-offs,” said Nation. “Just the beginning of this quarter, we’re already at 111 drop-offs, mainly being women and children.”
The center has room for about 500 children and adults who need support. Nation says the issue is increasing.
“I will tell you that first-time families struggling with homelessness is on the rise, so being able to provide even more programs and services out to our community is vastly important,” she said.
This week, the Orlando City Council approved a $150,000 grant for the Coalition, so shelter staff can continue to provide temporary housing, meals, and hygiene kits to those brought in by OPD.
“Being able to give someone somewhere to sleep at night and not on the streets, we provide them dignity. As we told everyone, we’re to help and we’re here to answer the call when we find out there’s things going on,” said city commissioner Shan Rose, who represents District 5.
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida is a closed campus to protect the safety of those seeking services there.