ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando officials are pivoting their approach to addressing homelessness after scrapping plans for a shelter in the SoDo neighborhood. 

Mayor Buddy Dyer announced the decision on social media, stating that the city will instead explore a mobile shelter bus program.

The initial plan involved converting the Orange County Work Release Center on Kaley Avenue into a homeless shelter. However, it was met with strong opposition from SoDo residents, who argued that services for the homeless population should be distributed throughout the city rather than concentrated downtown.

“In January, my husband and I started the group ‘Stop SoDo Shelter,’” said Chelsea Cantilli, a longtime SoDo resident. “In just a few months, we’ve gotten over 1,500 members, close to 400 yard signs, and a very activated community that is tired of all the homeless people being concentrated in the downtown area.”

While acknowledging the need for solutions, many SoDo residents expressed concerns about the shelter’s potential impact on safety, property values, and overall quality of life in the neighborhood.

In response, city officials are now proposing a fleet of two 45-foot buses equipped with sleeping pods, which would serve as mobile shelters for unhoused individuals. Each bus would accommodate approximately 20 people.

City council members are expected to vote on the proposal on March 24. If approved, the initiative would mark a shift toward a decentralized approach to homelessness, aiming to provide temporary housing while connecting individuals with social services.

Advocates for the homeless say they are eager to see more details about how the program, called 407 Connect, will operate, including where the buses will be stationed and how long individuals will be allowed to stay.