WINTER PARK, Fla. — The Winter Park Police Department is joining the efforts to combat homelessness across Central Florida, after announcing a new initiative that begins Monday.

The program focuses on connecting those people in need with organizations and resources available, especially permanent housing when it is available.  

What You Need To Know

  • Winter Park's program to address homelessness is mainly being funded by the U.S. Department of Justice's community-oriented policing services office. 

  • The three-year, $250,000 federal grant will go toward two newly sworn-in officer positions

  • Resources for those experiencing homelessness can be found on the Winter Park Police Department’s website. Officers will also engage with people one on one and help direct them to resources as needed

Homeless Advocacy Response team or (HART) is being partially funded by federal grant money. When President Donald Trump announced a freeze on all federal grants last month, it was unclear what that meant for the $250,000 being allocated to the police department. However, soon after announcing the freeze, the Trump administration rescinded the freeze.

The grant will help the police department cover the cost of two newly sworn-in officer positions. Those officers would primarily focus on one-on-one interactions with people experiencing homelessness, creating relationships and trust with those individuals and directing them to resources available in the community.

In addition to the three-year, $250,000 grant being provided, Spectrum News 13’s partners at the Orlando Sentinel reported that the city of Winter Park will also contribute nearly $280,000 toward the officers' wages, equipment and designated vehicles that will allow the officers to lend a ride to local organizations that provide hot meals, showers and a change of clothes, among other resources.

Resources for those experiencing homelessness can be found on the Winter Park Police Department’s website.