ORLANDO, Fla. — On March 20, Orange County officials arrived at Kaleo Ministries in Orlando to serve an injunction to stop the facility from housing more than 100 homeless people on the property.

Officials say the injunction was served due to fire and building code violations.

What You Need To Know

  • Orange County officials say they have assisted 97 individuals with temporary housing, shutting down Kaleo Ministries on March 20

  • Most individuals were moved to hotels and shelters around Central Florida

  • Those living in hotel rooms have until April 17 to find a new place to live

  • Kaleo Ministries holding a fundraiser on Saturday to raise money for their facility

According to officials, before the injunction, most of the residents were living in modified shipping containers that did not have sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.

The county provided a mobile resource center to assist everyone in finding temporary housing in area hotels and shelters.

In an email on Friday, the officials reported that 97 individuals have secured temporary housing paid for by Orange County.

Two of those individuals are Jon Cimermanci and his wife, who had lived at Kaleo Ministries for more than six years before they were forced to leave.

The 63-year-old said he is grateful for the hotel room provided by the county, but only has until April 17 to find a new home.

“Well, it’s comfortable,” he said of the accommodations. “It was really nice of them to do that.”

“I guess it’s better than sleeping on the sidewalk,” he added, before noting a recent law enacted in Florida. “Which I guess you’re not allowed to do that anymore.”

For years Cimermanci said he was sleeping around Orlando sidewalks and streets until he found Kaleo Ministries six years ago. The organization helped him get sober and provided him and his wife with work and housing in an air-conditioned shipping container. 

Losing their home of six years was bad new on top of the life-changing medical news his wife recently received.

“Cancer,” Cimermanci said with tears in his eyes. “She has to have what you call radiation.”

Since that diagnosis, Cimermanci said he has been doing what he can with what he has to help his wife of 13 years, including taking to bus to shop at nearby stores.

He said the couple depends on disability and Medicaid assistance for survival.

Cimermanci said apartments in the area start at $1,500 a month for a one-bedroom, “and then you must pay the electric with no money to eat with.”

Kaleo Ministries owner Marcos Diaz and others said they plan to hold a fundraiser at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the El Jibarito, located 1985 S. John Young Pakway, in Kissimmee.

Ministry officials said money donated during the event will go to new sprinkler systems and permits to allow Kaleo Ministries to open back up as a shelter for the homeless.