Activists: Emergency homeless shelter needed in Osceola County

There are thousands of children, and families living inside hotels and motels in Osceola County. They are a unique section of the homeless population because many work hard but can’t get themselves out of their situation. Now, community activists is fighting for funding for those families in need.

“One minute we were stable and we had everything going for us and then next thing we know we didn’t know what was going to happen next,” Yvonne Perez said.

Perez’s family story is one that’s all too common in Osceola County, but no one knows how common it really is because any survey on the homeless population only counts those living on the streets.

“It’s very misleading. We have about 150 chronically homeless folks. But we have thousands of families living in hotel parking lots and hotel rooms,” Donna Sines with Community Vision said.

Even more people are thought to be living the way Perez was, on a couch in another family’s home.

“You think you have everything you need and your trying to move forward but you just don’t go anywhere,” Perez said.

Now local leaders are working to find a way to help people like Perez move forward faster. “We really need an emergency shelter,” Sines said.

Working together Park Place, Community Vision and local leaders have picked “Fellowship Home.”

Right now the building sits empty, but they are hoping that with the funding they will be able to open their doors to anyone.

Formerly used as transition house, the building is fully furnished with room for 22 people, but they need about $500,000 to get the ball rolling.

“We are working with [Florida Senator Darren Soto] and the rest of the delegation to see this funding go through the budget process,” County Commissioner Michael Harford said.

With help, Perez was recently able to pull out of her situation. Now she just hopes more people in Osceola County will have the same chance.

“It seems that although it’s a challenge, everything is possible. Literally it’s one step at a time. But I can do something. I can be somebody. I will be somebody,” Perez said.