Millions of people in Florida face intense financial struggles, according to a recent study by United Way.
In Osceola County, one local agency is working to get people out of hotels and motels and back on their feet.
One piece of non-perishable food at a time, the volunteers at the Community Hope Center in Kissimmee fill up bags for those in need in Osceola County.
“We work to fill in the gaps,” Mary Downey the President of the Community Hope Center told us.
Mary Downey the president of Community Hope Center, says right now there are about 5,000 homeless children living in the hotels and motels along U.S. Highway 192. Every day they see more people in need of their services.
Tryphenia Sonnylal, a single mother of three living along U.S. Highway 192, is one of those people who have turned to the Center for help.
“Yes it is tough but you just have to keep on pushing through,” Sonnylal explained.
In a recent study by the United way, they explained areas in Central Florida, including Flagler, Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola Counties are all ranked as having "Poor" housing affordability, while Brevard, Lake, Sumter and Marion are ranked "Fair."
The study also showed that millions of families throughout Florida can’t afford basic housing, child care, food, or health care.
That is the gap the Community Hope Center wants to help fill.
“They aren’t looking for a hand out they are looking for a hand up and that’s what we are working to do to walk with them on a path to self-sufficiency,” Downey later said.
For more information on the ALICE study, you can view the PDF file here.