ORLANDO, Fla. — One nonprofit in Orlando is looking to do something big — build a new facility close by and turn its current location into affordable housing for low-income seniors. 

United Against Poverty provides food, clothing and other items to people in need. 

It needs a new space because its building saw storm damage these past few months, and the organization can’t stay there long term.

Anjali Vaya, executive director for United Against Poverty, said its leaders cannot ignore the challenges they have faced in the past. 

“We’ve had a roof that just collapsed early this year, and then we flooded on Labor Day weekend," Vaya said. "This is a very old structure; it’s not going to make it in the next few years if we just continue to be operational the way it exists today.” 

The goal is to house seniors whose income is below 200% of the poverty level. 

“We’ve seen a large increase in 2024 in the senior population having to utilize our services,” Vaya said. 

The number of people who would live in the facility has not been determined yet. 

“The facility would be approximately 40,000 square feet. It would be two stories, and within those two stories, you’d find all the programming,” Vaya said. 

It truly will take a village to make this project a reality. 

“We’re hoping now that we’ve taken it this far that the message to the community is, 'We can make this happen. We can help the community,'” Vaya said. 

Currently, about 650 people use UAP's facility daily. 

The cost of the proposed project could range from $14 million to $16 million. The nonprofit is in talks with Orange County and the city of Orlando in an effort to get grants to fund the project.

It also is launching a capital campaign next year for the community to get involved.