CLERMONT, Fla. — Affordable housing and homelessness seem to go hand in hand in Florida.

The nonprofit, New Beginnings in Clermont, has a couple of affordable housing projects in the works. However, they believe homelessness is at a crisis level and they need the county’s help. 

What You Need To Know

  • New Beginnings in Clermont has a couple active affordable housing projects and some on the way, but they believe homelessness is at crisis level and they need the county’s help

  • The group says the county needs a triage center which would be a resource facility for folks experiencing homelessness and connecting them with local and state resources

  • Patricia Schroeder, who is homeless, said she’d jump at the opportunity for a resource center where it’s a safe place to rest her head, take a shower, and charge her phone

  • Lake County has an affordable housing advisory committee with a goal of focusing on affordable housing for low-income households in the county

Nonprofit leaders say a triage center would be a good starting point, which would be a good resource facility for people experiencing homelessness. People would get connected with local and state resources while having a place to sleep short term.

Lake County doesn’t currently have a triage center and New Beginnings is hoping to get the county to help fund one.

Patricia Schroeder, who is homeless, said she’d jump at the opportunity for a resource center where it’s a safe place to rest her head, take a shower, and charge her phone.

Schroeder said times are tough right now after her home burnt down last year. She had no renter’s insurance and was diagnosed with lupus, so all she has is the $840 she makes monthly on disability.

“I don’t get enough to even rent an apartment. I have a driver’s license, but I don’t make enough money to qualify to get a car. I don’t. I have nothing,” said Schroeder. “People will look straight through me. They see me. They don’t see that I need help or they just don’t care. To me, I feel like I’m invisible.”

While she hopes for more affordable housing in Lake County, she knows that’s not today’s reality. For now, she hides like most homeless people and goes into the woods seeking shelter and avoiding trouble.

“The blinders need to be lifted because basically that’s what it is. It’s tunnel vision. If they don’t have to see it, that’s why they don’t want to see the homeless. They don’t have to deal with it. They need to see it,” said Schroeder. “Nobody has hope. What’s going to happen to me next? There’s nowhere to turn. There’s nowhere we can get the help we need.”

Lake County has an affordable housing advisory committee with a goal of focusing on affordable housing for low-income households in the county. Spectrum News 13 reached out to Commissioner Leslie Campione regarding the work the committee has done. She declined to comment.