ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City Council members advanced ordinances Monday that would help expand the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.
One project would see the construction of a new six-story Center for Women and Families.
According to ordinance documents, the 92,000 square foot center will provide 350 shelter beds for women and children and 36 units of “bridge housing” for families that are transitioning from the shelter into off-campus housing.
The other project would see campus improvements for the Coalition for the Homeless that include a new 9,000 square foot two-story administrative office building and a 160 square foot security building located within the site.
A Parramore resident at the meeting expressed concerns about building up more homeless services in the area.
“Since moving back to Parramore, I feel the impact, and the impact is not nice when I have to pay for extra security just to protect my property,” said Lawanna Gelzer. “We were bearing the bunk of the problem in our community and it’s not being shared by any other district.”
Director of Development for the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida Trinette Nation says she understands her concerns, but asserts that the coalition is in a 70-year-old building.
Nation says they’re taking seven parcels they currently own and combining them into one for ease of use and continuity.
The city voted unanimously on both ordinances.
A second reading and a public hearing will happen at the next city council meeting.