ORLANDO, Fla. – Advocates and community leaders gathered Monday to take the first step in creating a Family Justice Center in Orange County, a facility designed to provide critical resources for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of abuse under one roof.
The announcement, hosted by Harbor House of Central Florida, marks the beginning of a series of meetings to turn the concept into reality. Casey Gwinn, president of Alliance for Hope International, emphasized the impact the center could have.
“All the services for victims of domestic and sexual violence will be under one roof,” Gwinn said. “Survivors won’t have to go from place to place, telling their story over and over again. Instead, they’ll have one safe space for the support they need.”
The center would unite law enforcement, advocates, therapists, and the judicial system in one location to make access to services easier and safer for survivors. Gwinn also noted the life-saving potential of the initiative.
“The Family Justice Center has an amazing outcome; homicides go to zero for anyone who walks through the front door. When victims are wrapped in safety and support services all in one place, and we hold aggressors accountable, women don’t die,” he said.
Dan Ortiz of Harbor House called the initiative “monumental” for survivors in Orange County.
The process begins this month with a study tour to observe how similar centers operate across the country, with the ultimate goal of creating a comprehensive resource hub for Central Florida. The entire initiative is still being calculated. However, the DeVos Family Foundation will help conduct the study to design the center and Universal Orlando Foundation is funding the center’s manager position.
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