ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s been more than a month since serious damage was caused and hundreds of men were displaced after a fire broke out at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida in Orlando.

Within hours of the Feb. 8 fire, the organization secured new housing for hundreds of men who would have otherwise had no place to stay. As of Friday, one dorm and the main commercial kitchen remained closed after the fire, but two dorms have fully reopened, allowing about 150 men to return to the Coalition for the Homeless facility on North Terry Avenue in downtown.

What You Need To Know

  • On Feb. 8, a fire broke out at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida

  • As a result of the fire, hundreds of men staying at the facility were displaced

  • Since then, repairs done at the facility have allowed about 150 residents to come back
  • Officials at the Coalition for the Homeless say they still need the community’s help to fully recover from the fire

The Orlando Fire Department’s Arson/Bomb Squad finalized its investigation into the fire, but deemed the cause undetermined. While the case is closed, Orlando Fire investigators will continue to follow up on leads and encourage the public to come forward with any information by contacting CRIMELINE at 800-423-TIPS. 

“Because of the water coming down through the ceiling, we had to take all of that out, as well as the entire walls over here in this area and our pantry. They’re gone. It’s almost like a skeleton framework in here since the fire,” said Coalition director of development Trinette Nation.

Nation said being able to welcome back residents after such a traumatizing time has been a joy.

“Come on, let’s take a look, because it’s amazing to us who have worked here," she said. "We have seen in full capacity. Being able to walk in and see, you can actually see how bad the damage was. It was about 3 feet up on each side that the water impeded and caused damage to the drywall."

“It feels really good to have these guys back on campus," she added. "It feels really good to be able to provide those programs and services."

But the organization’s journey to rebuild isn’t over. The dorm where the fire started remains will likely remain closed for at least another four weeks.

“This is our 90-men dorm where the fire actually started," Nation said, pointing to the damaged space. "As you can see in the very end, because of the fire and the water damage and the smoke, they actually had to go in to remove all the drywall."

Throughout this last month, Nation said the Orlando community has really come together to help the Coalition through the process of rebuilding. 

Nation said the Coalition still needs the community’s help. To get more information on the facility's needs and how to donate, visit the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida website.