ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Union Rescue Mission, one of Central Florida’s largest service providers to the homeless, wants to do something about the housing shortage.
The organization plans to build a development that will feature 108 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, just down the street from their headquarters on West Washington Street.
This will allow graduates of the nonprofit Mission’s programs and those who are referred by neighborhood leadership and ministry partners to afford safe, stable, and affordable homes as they work to become financially independent.
Freddy Clayton, the organization president, said the development will include a system to support residents including on-site counseling services, case management, financial literacy instruction, positive parenting classes, behavioral health services, and access to the resources available to Mission guests.
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The requirements for residency include full employment, mandatory drug testing, adherence to a 10 p.m. curfew, and participation in a savings program.
“Right now, with what I think is kind of a catastrophic shortage of housing in central Florida, we have guests who are ready to graduate our programs they have good jobs they are sober they are stable, but they are not making enough money to afford an apartment even in a less expensive part of town,” Clayton said.
Residents won’t have to pay rent, but they will be asked to pay a program fee which is 50% to 60% of market rates.
Clayton said he expects people to stay two to three years, before branching out on their own.
“What we want is a stable long term independent life that breeds their dignity and self-respect,” Clayton said.
Tiffany Presely has been in the Mission’s program for 6 months.
“My life turned upside down when I lost my car and then I had to leave my job,” she said.
Presely credits the non-profit for providing shelter, food and other necessities. She also feels grateful for the tools they’ve given her to take steps toward becoming self-sufficient.
She hopes the development plan is finalized.
“It would not only be good for me but for the people that’s in here, the people that’s homeless and ready to change their life and be independent like they should be,” Presely said.
Clayton said the organization will fund the construction of the project completely through donations.
In the meantime, they are working with the city to get the plan approved.
“This is going to occur through the generosity and love of the Central Florida community,” Clayton said.
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