ORLANDO, Fla. — The Homeless Services Network is calling for action. Officials said the number of unsheltered people in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties has doubled since last year, and with the high heat Central Florida is experiencing, they need help. 

What You Need To Know

  • Christian Service Center, an area nonprofit, is looking to help the homeless population beat the heat over the next few days

  • In addition to shower, laundry and clothing services, Christian Service Center says the safety of those at their site is crucial

  • Up to 500 people visit the Christian Service Center every day; finding space to fit everyone can be tough, but they make do with what they have

These are people living under overpasses or in the woods. The extreme heat expected over the next few days could be a very dangerous situation for them. 

Christian Service Center, an area nonprofit, is looking to help in more ways than one. 

And the homeless population is grateful to see the endless amount of support. 

“Everybody is finding their different way to stay cool and hydrated,” said Dorion Philmore, who comes to the Christian Service Center five days a week. 

It's a place to beat the heat, but to him, it’s more than that. It’s home. 

“If you are in the streets and you are struggling, just understand that," Philmore said. "I had to take a long time to understand this and put my pride to the side. There are resources in every city if you just look for it.”

Philmore said he’s been experiencing homelessness for the past two years, on and off. 

Even through the challenging times, he kept his head up. 

“I always keep in my head, it’s just a bad day, not a bad life,” Philmore said. 

Carla Cox, director of operations for the Christian Service Center, said she and her team strive every day to provide the best services possible.

In addition to shower, laundry and clothing services, Cox said the safety of those around her is crucial. 

“Our goal is to open as many spaces as we can indoors and to make sure people have a safe place to come inside and rest during that extreme heat event,” Cox said. 

With up to 500 people visiting the Christian Service Center every day, finding space to fit everyone can be tough.

“I don’t have enough indoor space to accommodate everyone all day, every day. That’s why we try to do everything we can outside to make sure people are as comfortable as possible,” Cox said. 

They make do with what they have. There’s a tent, fans, outside access to water and two indoor spaces to cool off. 

It takes more than a village to make this happen.

“It takes people sitting down, coming to the table, people who are experts, people with lived experience to say, ‘How can we make a better system to meet the unique needs of our population and community'?” Cox said.  

If you would like to help the Christian Service Center in their efforts, you can help them gather what they need for their summer survival kits.

Things like sunscreen, flip-flops, cooling neck towels, insulated cups, umbrellas, lip balm and electrolyte packets are needed. 

You can drop off those items individually to the Christian Service Center or put them all in a bag. 

Cox and her team will then make a kit and give them out.