ORLANDO, Fla. — The city of Orlando, in partnership with the Christian Service Center for the Homeless, is evaluating the feasibility of purchasing two Greyhound buses that will be transformed into a shelter for those who are experiencing homelessness. 

What You Need To Know

  • The city of Orlando is looking to potentially purchase buses for shelter purposes  

  • As part of a partnership with the Christian Service Center for the Homeless, the buses would provide about 40 beds, bathrooms and showers

  • The idea must first be approved by the city’s CRA Advisory Board

Staff with the Christian Service Center for the Homeless say the idea came from Vero Beach, which already has a shelter bus in place known as the Dignity Bus. 

In Orlando it would be known as 407 Connect, with about 40 beds, bathrooms and showers for individuals to use.

“During the day, it’ll be an offsite location, probably in one of the city parking areas, that it’s not going to be bothering anybody," said Christian Service Center for the Homeless Executive Director Eric Gray. "And then in the evening, we’ll pick it up about 7 o'clock (and) we’ll bring it to this campus. That’s the plan. We’ll have people on board between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. They’ll have about eight to nine hours on the bus and then they’ll offload around 6 a.m.”

Dr. Pia Valvassori has been with the health care system for the homeless for more than 20 years.

She says the idea of a shelter bus is not only a benefit to address the lack of shelter in the area, but can also support someone’s functionality and mental health

“Many of them come in, particularly when it’s extremely cold, extremely hot. They’re not sleeping. And that’s another trigger for disease, chronic disease, and as well as mental illness,” Valvassori said.

She’s the Christian Service Center Outreach And Housing Team’s lead clinician.

Valvassori said the clinic sees about 15 to 20 patients a day.

The center is a place for individuals to go to take care of their necessities.

“They are incredibly exhausted and incredibly stressed," Valvassori said. "And oftentimes, when they come in here, they sit in our waiting rooms. And more often than not, they fall asleep. It’s just a safe place for them to be."

The city would purchase two Greyhound buses and Gray said if the project is approved, it would take the center about two-and-a-half months to get the buses up and running

In theory, the buses could operate as soon as the summer, but the project first has to be approved by the city’s CRA advisory board.

The board is expected to meet on the topic at the end of February. The proposal would then go to city council for a vote.