KISSIMMEE, Fla. — It's official: Kissimmee is getting an emergency resource center for the homeless.

On Tuesday morning, Osceola County Commissioner Peggy Choudhry announced at a courthouse podium, “(It's) the very first emergency resource center in Osceola County!”

Choudhry had $150,000 to distribute -- grants she hasn’t used since being elected in 2016. Although the biggest check was handed to the Salvation Army -- $50,000 in betterment grants -- these eight organizations also received funding from Choudhry:

  • Blue Iris Acres
    • Funding will go towards the support of the Dancing Farmer Summit, which is a two-day program for kids that provides animal interaction, activities for stress reduction, health, and fitness education.
    • $1,020
  • Central Florida Hotel Lodging Association
    • Funding will go towards the hospitality students scholarship, allowing the students an opportunity to attend higher education without financial burden.
    • $3,000
  • Miles of Help Through Christ - Changing Rooms USA
    • Funding will go towards the purchase of a trailer to help distribute much-needed supplies provided to the homeless in Osceola County.
    • $4,455
  • Agape Food Ministries
    • Funding will go towards providing food for low income families, as well as elderly and disabled that are on a strict fixed income.
    • $4,500
  • Swamp Girl Adventures Corp
    • Funding will go towards providing an educational cleanup project 'Keeping Osceola Beautiful' that will bring the community together to help remove litter and invasive plants from local areas.
    • $4,700
  • St. Vincent de Paul Corpus Christi
    • Funding will go towards families and individuals at risk of becoming homeless, providing assistance for different needs such as medical, housing, food, and legal services.
    • $4,900
  • Free Clinic of Florida
    • Funding will go towards providing care to Osceola County residents who are uninsured and low income.
    • $5,000
  • Cabello Bravo Fino Horse International Association
    • Funding will provide monthly family classes for pet owners addressing safe ways and procedures when under an emergency with your horse and other animals. Classes will include CPR, first responder, and 911 awareness.
    • $18,000

For two years Choudhry has been advocating for a resource center, but lacked support from her county commissioners and from the majority of the commissioners in the city of Kissimmee.

“It took time and it did take time to get this done,” Choudhry said. “But I am just very excited that now we’re here today, and we’re moving forward, and one of the best nonprofit organizations that is internationally known is coming forward.”

The resource center will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and will provide:

  • Rental assistance
  • Utility assistance
  • Vouchers for clothing
  • Emergency food and referrals
  • Shelter through partnerships with surrounding housing units
  • Medical and mental health
  • Hot food twice a day
  • Showers and lockers
  • Job search assistance
  • Shared office spaces

The Emergency Resource Center will not serve as a homeless shelter. The Salvation Army is hoping it will be open by the end of this year.