WINTER PARK, Fla – A Central Florida group is hosting a conversation about homelessness and the recent challenges faced in efforts to combat the crisis.
“It’s just a growing issue,” League of Women Voters of Orange County President Kathy Schmitz said.
The League of Women Voters of Orange County is bringing attention to the recent changes impacting the homeless community and exploring ways the public can contribute to the solution. On Wednesday, they will be hosting a discussion panel titled “Unsheltered: Criminalized and Cast Aside.”
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“The reason for choosing this topic this month is to bring some of the voices of people together who really have been working in these areas and lift up the issue so that it is visible,” Schmitz explained.
As Central Florida grapples with a shortage of homeless shelter beds, a new state law bans sleeping or camping on public property. Residents, business owners and the state attorney general can also sue cities and counties that fail to enforce these camping bans.
So far this year, about two dozen homeless people have been arrested in Orlando for sleeping on public property. Seminole County recently made its first arrest over the weekend.
“Personally, I was able to volunteer with the point in time count earlier this January, and they were finding it was harder to do this year because of the new laws to get an accurate count of our neighbors who are struggling with homelessness,” Schmitz said.
In November 2024, the City of Orlando announced plans for a large homeless shelter in the SoDo district. The proposed shelter plans faced opposition from residents concerned about potential negative impacts. On Monday, Mayor Buddy Dyer shared that the city determined the project was not feasible. Despite this, he assured that the city will continue to collaborate to meet the needs of the homeless population.
“Homelessness can’t just be someone else’s problem. It’s not a challenge we can simply push away out of fear. We must address it and offer support to the unsheltered, together,” Dyer said in a statement.
The HOT TOPICS panel will feature local leaders discussing the challenges of providing shelter to the homeless, the potential opening of a new downtown homeless shelter in Orlando and the roles of various organizations in addressing the crisis.
The event will take place at the Winter Park Events Center, with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. for a buffet lunch. The discussion will begin at 11:45 a.m. and conclude at 1 p.m. Tickets are priced at $30 for League members and $37 for non-members, with registration available. For more information, click here.
The event will be streamed live on the League’s Facebook page, with an edited version available on their YouTube channel, League of Women Voters Orange County - YouTube.
