Christian Service Center for Central Florida

Homelessness is a housing problem.

We can’t arrest our way out of it.

From WFTV: “Homeless arrests also increased – and at a much faster rate, climbing from 5 per day to 13. Where Orlando officers once booked 1 homeless person for every 5 they brought to the jail, the number had increased to 1 in 3 in the first six months of 2024.”

“Homeless arrests also increased – and at a much faster rate, climbing from 5 per day to 13. Where Orlando officers once booked 1 homeless person for every 5 they brought to the jail, the number had increased to 1 in 3 in the first six months of 2024.”

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/homeless-people-make-up-increasing-number-orange-county-arrests-data-shows/IGK2KUPOIREIRJLMYIVIQAUTEM/

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Join us in celebrating our staff July birthdays & work anniversaries!

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With temperatures rising in Orlando, heat advisory’s and extreme heat warnings are becoming more frequent ☀️🌡️

Here are some of the signs to look for in someone experiencing heat exhaustion vs a heat stroke and nearby locations offering cooling centers to prevent overheating!💦🥵

🚑 If you see someone showing signs of heat stroke or exhaustion please take immediate action and call emergency services immediately!

In preparation for today's heat, our Downtown Parramore Campus is opening its doors as a cooling center! 🥵

We welcome you to come inside and enjoy the air conditioning, music/movie, rest, and hydrate! 💦 Please check in at the front desk for details.

Central Florida under heat advisory Monday as 'dangerous' heat index nears 112 degrees Peak heat index values, or 'feels-like' temperatures, are expected to reach 106 to 112 degrees

Now, more than ever, your local organizations helping neighbors experiencing homelessness NEED your support!

Please, consider donating at the secure link in our bio 🫶💙

U.S. Supreme Court rules Florida cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping in public spaces On October 1, it won't be a right in Florida to sleep in public places, but a consequence that could get anyone who does it arrested, depending on the city they live in.

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This morning SCOTUS ruled in favor of Grants Pass and not the 250,000 Americans who sleep outside on a given night, giving cities and states permission to punish people who are forced to sleep outside, even when they have no other safe option. A ruling like this will not only do nothing to end homelessness, it will punish people for existing in public simply because they have nowhere else to go.

Studies and experience show that criminalizing homelessness is a waste of taxpayer money and actually makes it harder to connect people with housing. The ruling is a clear sign that SCOTUS, like the politicians of both parties, would rather make homelessness invisible instead of ensuring people have safe, dignified housing.

✍🏻 Please share in the comments your thoughts on today’s ruling and what it means for our community

😢 Please share with us your thoughts on today’s decision and what this means for our community.

Homeless people can be ticketed for sleeping outside, Supreme Court rules | CNN Politics The Supreme Court ruled Friday in favor of an Oregon city that ticketed homeless people for sleeping outside, rejecting arguments that such “anti-camping” ordinances violate the Constitution’s ban on “cruel and unusual” punishment.

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🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨

The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that an Oregon city’s ordinance to bar anyone without a permanent residency from sleeping outside does not amount to “cruel and unusual” punishment under the Eighth Amendment.

The 6-3 opinion was authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch. The court’s three liberal justices dissented.

“Homelessness is complex. Its causes are many. So may be the public policy responses required to address it,” Gorsuch wrote. “At bottom, the question this case presents is whether the Eighth Amendment grants federal judges primary responsibility for assessing those causes and devising those responses. It does not.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in a dissent joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, argued the ordinance punishes homeless people with nowhere else to go based on status.

“It is possible to acknowledge and balance the issues facing local governments, the humanity and dignity of homeless people, and our constitutional principles,” Sotomayor wrote. “Instead, the majority focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local governments and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested.”

“The Constitution provides a baseline of rights for all Americans rich and poor, housed and unhoused,” Sotomayor said.

This is a developing story. We will continue to provide updates throughout the day.

BREAKING NEWS: This is incredibly disheartening and we will continue to provide updates as the day goes on 😢

A new initiative to help homeless teenagers and young adults has tripled the number of beds available in Central Florida, but the region needs more as the homeless population surges, advocates say.

The Brighter Days Community Initiative, announced this week, is the first in the area to focus solely on teenagers and young adults ages 16 to 24.

This segment of the population often cited safety concerns when seeking refuge in adult shelters, according to Aja Hunter, youth project director at the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, which is running the new effort with other community organizations.

The initiative, funded by a federal grant, wants to find more hotels, apartments and even spare rooms in residents’ houses to help provide more young people with a safe place to live. It has already added 180 beds for teens and young adults up from 70 previously available, but that still falls short of the demand.

Earlier this month, the homeless network announced the Orlando area faced a homeless crisis with a “raging river of people who are asking for help” because of rising housing costs.

Hunter said parents are losing their homes because of rising rent and leaving their older teens and young adults to fend for themselves.

“They are sleeping in cars or couch surfing and not having consistent housing,” Hunter said.
The initiative also funds a drop-in center, where the youth homeless can drop-in to receive crisis counseling and peer support, or a free meal and a hot shower.

But the most immediate objective is to find them a home. “When you provide the housing up front, it gives people a leg up as they continue on their path towards success,” said Hunter.


📰FULL Article available on Orlandosentinel.com

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Friends - mark your calendar! 🗓️ 🎉
will be providing meals and refreshments on the Downtown Parramore CSC Campus to celebrate the 4th of July 🇺🇸

Service will start in order to beat the HEAT! 🥵

Looking to volunteer or donate to the event? Visit www.yayasdream.org

Live outward to build community in the 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘 He’s set you. See a need, meet a need – in word & deed! BELONG IN THE PLACE HE SETS YOU. The Christian Service Center offers “Daily Bread” to our displaced neighbors. Volunteer with us as to serve the hungry!

fpco.org/serveteams

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☀️☀️☀️

Welcoming summer also means welcoming the Central Florida HEAT! 🥵 These rising temperatures can become dangerous and even deadly for our unhoused community.

We’re committed to keeping our neighbors safe this summer and desperately need your HELP to “Clear the List” … our Walmart Wish List! 🙏🏻 ✨

These items will be used to build our Summer Survival Kits which will provide vital heat relief resources 🧢 🩴 ☂️

Let’s Clear the List and, together, make summer SAFE for everyone!

You can easily access our Walmart Wish List 🔗 in our bio

The Supreme Court will soon reach a decision in the case, answering the question of whether all people in America are truly protected by the Constitution. We cannot treat the most vulnerable among us as disposable. The only proven solutions to homelessness are providing people with housing and services.

Learn more: johnsonvgrantspass.com

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✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿✊🏼
Whether your Juneteenth is filled with traditions or by enjoying one of the many celebrations around town, we hope you hold space for reflection. An inhale to appreciate progress, and an exhale to start on what’s next.

🔔Our offices are open normal business hours today.

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We hope you can join us this week, registration is FREE!

6/19
West Orange Campus
300 W. Franklin St.
Ocoee, FL 34761

6/20
Downtown Campus Tour
808 W. Central Blvd
Orlando, FL 32805

🚶🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

New affordable housing subdivision opens in Sanford Seminole County leaders are celebrating a new affordable housing subdivision in Sanford.

You’re WELCOME! 🤗 ❤️

Thank you for your continued support of our programs - helping to provide supplies & food!

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🥵Summer HEAT Survival Kits:

We still need your DONATIONS to reach our goal of 2,000 KITS! We need the following items:

☔️ Small umbrellas
🧢 Hats
🥤Insulated Water Bottles
💄Lip Balm
⚡️Electrolyte Packets
🧴Sunscreen

Does your business or church want to start a collection? We can provide you with a custom donation collection bin! 📦 ✅

🤔Interested? Send us a DM or email [email protected]

☀️🔥

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✨JUNE Events ✨

We have several FREE workshops and tours coming up this month! For more information, follow the Eventbrite link in our bio 🔗

We look forward to seeing you there! 👋🏻

🗣️ Call for WATER! 💦
Due to this weekends extreme HEAT, we’re opening up our indoor spaces from 1pm-6pm to provide a cooling station for those looking for heat relief 🥵

We are in NEED of additional bottled water from those who are able to donate & deliver! We will have signs directing you where to enter as well as where to go once inside the building.

Downtown Parramore location:
808 W Central Blvd
Orlando, FL 32805

Donation Drop off times:
Sunday 1pm-6pm

Thank you! 🫶🏻

https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2024/06/06/christian-service-center-aims-to-help-homeless-population-during-extreme-heat

Christian Service Center aims to help homeless population during extreme heat For the homeless, they’re grateful to see the endless amount of support

🗣️ Call for WATER! 💦
Due to this weekends extreme HEAT, we’re opening up our indoor spaces from 1pm-5pm to provide a cooling station for those looking for heat relief 🥵

We are in NEED of additional bottled water from those who are able to donate & deliver! We will have signs directing you where to enter as well as where to go once inside the building.

Downtown Parramore location:
808 W Central Blvd
Orlando, FL 32805

Donation Drop off times:
Saturday 2pm-5pm
Sunday 1pm-6pm

Thank you! 🫶🏻

Record heat and high humidity expected through the weekend Record highs and lows could be set through Monday.

“ORLANDO, Fla. – The weekend will stay hot. 🥵 In fact, we’ll be near-record heat.
With the increased humidity and the heat, it’s going to feel like 102°-106°.”

📣 Call for HELP - We are still in need of Summer Survival Kit items! Some of our higher need items include hats, small/portable umbrellas, insulated water bottles, flip flops, and sunscreen! 🧴

For more details see attached flyer in comments below: 📝👇🏻

The intense heat continues into the weekend with little to no rain The heat indices are expected to stay in the triple digits through the next several days

An annual census of people experiencing homelessness in Central Florida found an increase, including more than twice as many who are compared to last year.

Homeless Services Network of Central Florida says the results are “tragic.” This year’s Point-In-Time Count showed unsheltered homelessness in the Orange, Osceola and Seminole tri-county area is up 105% since the last count in 2023.

On a single night, the overall number of people experiencing across the three counties was found to be 2,883. Among those 1,201 were unsheltered. Network CEO Martha Are said that, for the first time, over half of the homeless population 65 and older is living without shelter.

According to the report, the findings mirror what local nonprofits have been witnessing. On the whole, homelessness is up 28%, with unsheltered homelessness showing the most dramatic spike — an increase that Are said was “sad but not totally unexpected.”

✍️: Lillian Hernández Caraballo
📰: Central Florida Public Media

Full story: https://www.cfpublic.org/housing-homelessness/2024-06-05/unsheltered-homeless-population-doubles-in-central-florida

Survey shows Orange, Osceola, Seminole counties see overall rise in homelessness The Homeless Services Network released its annual Point-in-Time count for 2024 for Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties.

An annual census of people experiencing homelessness in Central Florida found an increase, including more than twice as many who are unsheltered compared to last year.

The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida says the results are “tragic.” This year’s Point-In-Time Count showed unsheltered homelessness in the Orange, Osceola and Seminole tri-county area is up 105% since the last count in 2023.

On a single night, the overall number of people experiencing homelessness across the three counties was found to be 2,883. Among those 1,201 were unsheltered.

The PIT Count is a federally-mandated census of people who are homeless, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has designated the nonprofit network as the official agency to carry it out for the region. The process is conducted by volunteers who head out logging each individual they find living in shelters or unsheltered, like in cars, in tents, or in the woods.

Network CEO Martha Are said that, for the first time, over half of the homeless population 65 and older is living without shelter.

“It’s devastating,” Are said. “It is a tragedy for everyone forced to survive without housing, and it’s especially a tragedy, for instance, for the growing numbers of elderly women who are becoming homeless for the first time in their lives. For these seniors, especially, the experience of homelessness is absolutely terrifying.”

This year, the count drew four times as many volunteers as it did last year. Because of that, Are said, the “troubling” results are more accurate and reliable.

According to the report, the findings mirror what local nonprofits have been witnessing. On the whole, homelessness is up 28%, with unsheltered homelessness showing the most dramatic spike — an increase that Are said was “sad but not totally unexpected.”

There was no count in 2021 due to the pandemic, but Are said the numbers have been rising steadily since. She said a majority of cases are "former neighbors," people who used to be live housed in the Central Florida community.

“We have been warning the community for many years that we were going to see an increase,” Are said. “The Central Florida region has been identified by the National Low Income Housing Coalition as having one of the worst housing markets in the country, and that's been a very consistent place for us for the last six or seven years.”

Are said that as the need grows, funding and housing haven’t kept pace. In October, for the first time in its 30-year history, the HSNCFL held a fundraiser.

In a statement, the network said overall funding for permanent supportive housing, which is needed for people with disabilities, now pays for 200 fewer beds than it did a year ago.

Are also said that rent prices remain near an all-time high in Central Florida, which is pricing people out of their homes.

“Despite these overwhelming challenges, in the past year, we’ve helped over 6,900 people move into long-term, stable housing,” Are said. “But when you have nearly twice that number becoming homeless, you can see what the problem is. We must somehow stem the tide.”

Currently, she said, the region has a deficit of more than 57,000 units for extremely low-income households and needs another 95,000 for workers earning the median income.

WMFE Central Florida Public Media

“Community leaders made a call to local government officials for help with the sheltering and cooling of unsheltered individuals, as weather changes progress.

Florida’s hurricane season officially began June 1, and this summer has been projected to be one of the hottest on record.

On Friday, the Christian Service Center of Orlando hosted a press conference where Executive Director Eric Gray urged the public about the needs of people experiencing homelessness during these times of emergency. The event was held under the noon sun “to prove a point,” as Gray put it.

With sweat dripping down his face, Gray said faith-based organizations and nonprofits can’t continue bearing the brunt alone, as the needs grow.

“We're really challenged with how many people are coming out here every day. It's growing every day,” Gray said.

Gray said more people experiencing homelessness needed his organization's emergency services last year than ever before.

According to Dr. Pia Valvassori, a Board member at the CSC, more people die from heat than from any other natural phenomenon in the world.

“In 2021 alone, there were 1,600 deaths related to extreme heat, marking a 60% uptick from previous years,” she said. “These reports recognize this number is an undercount.”

Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani, District 42, commended Gray and other local leaders and nonprofits for their labor to help the most vulnerable, especially the ones facing housing insecurity or living in low-income communities that may lack energy efficiency or functional protections against heat.

“Folks are just spending a lot of their money on trying to stay cool. And those who don't have money, have no alternatives, no options,” she said.

Eskamani spoke about House Bill 433, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in April, which no longer allows local governments in Florida to enact laws designed to protect outdoor workers from extreme heat.

Eskamani said the law was pushed by “big business interests,” so they could avoid paying for workers’ heat protection, affecting outdoor agricultural and construction workers, whom she said are often workers of color.

She said that, despite the cost, resources to provide cooling to vulnerable people, especially those “working their tails off to support our economy” is necessary and only fair.

“We're basically saying (...) they don't have the benefit of basic safety and protections,” Eskamani said. “The cost of losing someone is immeasurable. When someone dies from heat stress, they are gone forever. You can't put a price tag to that.”

To that, Gray said legislators are disconnected.

“Most of the people that are making decisions are working and living in air conditioning 100% of the time,” Gray said. “That's the reality that they see every day, so that's the reality they're gonna legislate around. If you're not outside, and you're not spending time out in the heat on a regular basis, you don't get it.”

Other people in attendance included Warren Foster, program manager at Orange Blossom Family Health Center, Shaniqua “Shan” Rose, who’s running for Orlando’s District 5 seat in the City Commission, and Martha Are, CEO of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida.

“This is crisis-level at this point, both because the heat is so intense and because the numbers of homelessness have increased so much, and it's not proper to expect the nonprofit sector to shoulder that by itself,” Are said.

Gray called for public agencies to open air-conditioned spaces for cooling, as well as beds for shelter during storms.

👏🏻 Thank for Central Florida Public Media

Homelessness nonprofits ask local governments to help cooling and sheltering people With the start of Florida’s hurricane season and expected record-breaking heat, Orlando activists said they cannot bear the brunt of helping the unsheltered alone.

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For every voice raised, for every heart that loves, we stand as one! 👩🏻👱🏾🧔🏼‍♀️👨🏻‍🦰

Happy pride month! 🌈

Research series: Who has access to homeownership? Affordable homeownership has long-lasting and life-changing impacts on households. In this evidence brief, Habitat takes a look at who currently has access to homeownership and what factors play a role in the U.S.

Former Orlando hotel now an affordable housing complex The City of Orlando is celebrating the opening of an affordable apartment development at the site of what used to be a blighted hotel.

🥵 ☀️ 💦
Extreme summer heat impacts the health of our unsheltered neighbors unable to find relief indoors.

Let’s help keep them safe with Summer Survival Kits!

Include one of each of the items on this flyer into a bag and deliver to the Christian Service Center for distribution to those experiencing homelessness in Central Florida.

This is a great activity for families, friends, & groups! Want more information or need to schedule donation drop off?
Please email: [email protected]

A scorching long holiday weekend is expected for the Orlando area — with temperatures forecast to reach into the upper 90s.

The heat wave — spurred in part by dry weather, which allows heat to build quicker — will be the latest in a string of above-average temperatures recorded this year, said meteorologist Kole Sehling with the National Weather Service in Melbourne.

“It will be hot but it’s not what we haven’t seen already in May,” Sehling said.

Most of the area will face “major” or “extreme” risks of heat-related impacts Saturday through Tuesday according to the Weather Service’s HeatRisk system.

HeatRisk is an experimental index that forecasts risks of heat-related impacts to occur over a 24-hour period. It’s meant to provide guidance for decision-makers and heat-sensitive populations.

The index takes into consideration how unusual the heat is for the time of the year; duration of heat including both daytime and nighttime temperatures; and if those temperatures pose an elevated risk of heat-related impacts based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Over the next few days … there’s not going to be much break, especially at night,” Sehling said. “The heat will be able to build up and create a higher-than-usual heat risk.”

At the elevated index levels, the Weather Service says area health systems could see a spike in heat-related illnesses while heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure are likely to be impacted. Anyone without effective cooling or hydration could face heat exhaustion or potentially deadly heat stroke — which has symptoms including confusion, dizziness and unconsciousness and requires immediate medical attention.

Those most at risk from heat include the elderly, the very young, people with pre-existing conditions or medications that make them heat-sensitive, people who work or exercise outdoors and those new to the area and not acclimated to hot temperatures.

The Weather Service forecasts a high of 95 and a low of 74 in Orlando on Friday.

The heat wave will continue in Orlando with a high of 96 and a low of 75 on Saturday then peak with a high of 98 on Sunday — a full 10 degrees above the average high of 88 degrees for May — and a low of 74. The highest temperatures ever recorded at Orlando International Airport on these dates were 98 on Saturday, 99 on Sunday and 100 on Monday, according to Sehling.

“We’re forecasting just below to near-record highs,” he said.

Temperatures are expected to stay near a high of 98 on Memorial Day. Taking into account humidity it will feel like triple-digits.

And don’t look to the clouds for much relief. The weekend is expected to be mostly clear with the exception of Saturday — which has a 20% chance of rain and thunderstorms after 2 p.m.

The heat wave will continue through Tuesday with a high of 96. The Weather Services expects temperatures to fall back into the low 90s on Wednesday.

The highest May temperature ever recorded in Orlando was 102 degrees in 1945.

Orlando Sentinel