WINTER GARDEN, Fla \u2013 Matthew\u2019s Hope says more people are turning to the Central Florida nonprofit for help at the same time the cost of providing that help is climbing.<\/p>\n
The organization, which serves people experiencing homelessness in Orange and Brevard counties, says its two campuses are now seeing more than 1,300 visits a week.<\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s Hope provides food, clothing, showers, health care and other basic services. It is not a traditional overnight shelter, although it does open as one during extreme weather. <\/p>\n
At its Winter Garden campus, Director Shannon Diaz said between 90 and 130 people can come through the food pantry on a Tuesday or Thursday.<\/p>\n
For years, when donated food, shoes or other supplies ran low, Matthew\u2019s Hope would use donated money to buy more.<\/p>\n
Now, Diaz said, that is changing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we don\u2019t have it, then we just don\u2019t have it to give out because we don\u2019t have the funds to purchase it,\u201d Diaz said.<\/p>\n
Across its Orange and Brevard County locations, Matthew\u2019s Hope says it has spent about $468,000 more than it brought in over the past six months, with much of the increased spending tied to food and fuel.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Diaz said the organization is seeing more people experiencing homelessness for the first time.<\/p>\n
She pointed to Brevard County, where she said one recent service day brought 22 new intakes. A more typical day in the past might have brought three or four. <\/p>\n
Diaz said many of those newly seeking help are older adults.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of first-time homelessness right now. A lot of baby boomers, first time being homeless, whether that\u2019s loss of a spouse or rent increases,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She said some are living on fixed incomes and finding that higher rent and everyday expenses are simply becoming too much.<\/p>\n
Those same higher prices are also affecting the people who donate.<\/p>\n
Diaz said Matthew\u2019s Hope has had longtime monthly donors call to say they need to stop giving for a while. Others who may once have been able to give $100 a month are now able to give closer to $25.<\/p>\n
She said the organization\u2019s donor base has continued to grow, but the amount some individuals can afford to give has fallen. <\/p>\n
Matthew\u2019s Hope is now asking the community to help fill some of those gaps directly through donation drives. Items in high demand include men\u2019s shoes, men\u2019s boxers, clothing, women\u2019s sports bras and single-serving pantry items.<\/p>\n
For Diaz, the work is personal.<\/p>\n
She first came to Matthew\u2019s Hope in 2019 when she was homeless herself. She went through the nonprofit\u2019s Moving Forward program, later became a receptionist and advocate, and was eventually promoted to lead the Orange County campus. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been on the other side of this thing,\u201d Diaz said.<\/p>\n
Now, she is helping run the place she once turned to for help. Want to help? Matthew\u2019s Hope accepts one-time and recurring donations through its official website.<\/p>\n