ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 A vacant lot on Goldenrod Road could soon become the site of a new homeless shelter in Orange County. The county is considering a plan to build a 150-bed, full-service facility, but some neighbors say they have questions about security and how the program would work.<\/p>\n
Robin Person, who lives nearby, says she wants to help people who are unhoused, but she also has concerns. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re bringing 150 people from somewhere else into the area, and what are the plans for their finances?\u201d Person said. <\/p>\n
[RELATED: Stories about homelessness in Central Florida<\/a>]<\/p>\n Person also said security is one of her biggest worries and she wants to know how the county plans to help people get back on their feet. <\/p>\n \u201cAre they going to interview the homeless who are currently in the area? Because there are a lot. There are different homeless camps all through the area, all the way past Dean Road,\u201d Person said.<\/p>\n [WATCH: Questions raised over homelessness in Central Florida]<\/p>\n There is also a homeless outreach center, Samaritan Resource Center, about two and a half miles from the proposed location.<\/p>\n I shared those concerns with Orange County Commissioner Myra Uribe. <\/p>\n \u201cIt will be completely secured. People will be accepted into the facility. It will not be a place for people to come and loiter. They will not allow loitering,\u201d Uribe said.<\/p>\n [RELATED:Debunking 8 myths about homelessness in Central Florida<\/a>]<\/p>\n Uribe said if approved, Goldenrod Village would offer on-site food, laundry, and housing services. She said people selected to stay there will be assessed and given help to recover. <\/p>\n \u201cThe idea is that there is a 90-day transition, which gives you three months to acquire new employment, handle your needs, and help you qualify financially to get another place and be successful. Nobody wants anyone to fail,\u201d Uribe said.<\/p>\n Uribe said the project would cost between $25 and $27 million and would be owned and overseen by the county with help from a rehabilitation agency. <\/p>\n She also said the county plans to hold several community meetings so people can voice their concerns, which she hopes could start as early as April.<\/p>\n [WATCH: Orange County town hall discusses what would make residents open to a homeless shelter]<\/p>\n Last year, News 6 joined with about a dozen media outlets in Central Florida to shine a light on homelessness in the area.<\/a><\/p>\n In our stories, we learned there is little help for homeless people in East Orange County.<\/p>\n Samaritan Resource Center is really the only facility that offers any services. While it is not a shelter, SRC offers help with eviction prevention, and housing help through various programs. It also offers job training, mental health and substance abuse counseling, food assistance and other programs. <\/p>\n Recognizing the need to raise awareness about homelessness and the myths surrounding homelessness, Samaritan Resource Center holds monthly town hall meetings<\/a> to update the community, including what resources are out there, what help is needed, and more. <\/p>\n