ORLANDO, Fla. — The East Orlando Homeless Shelter called Hope City Refuge is looking to build a new complex to help with the homelessness problem in Orange County.

Hope City Refuge served as a homeless shelter and a community resource run by Kaleo Ministries before its operations were shut down a year ago by the Orange County fire marshall because of “severe life safety issues.”

What You Need To Know

  • Hope City Refuge is looking to build a new complex to help teens in crisis and to address the homelessness problem in Orange County

  • The group first presented its development plan to the Orange County Planning and Zoning commission on Jan. 16 but was granted a continuation to address multiple county code violations

  • Hope City Refuge and Kaleo Ministries Pastor Marcos Diaz says they have and will continue to address those violations in order to get their development approved

  • If Planning and Zoning approves the rezoning application, the organization will still have to get the county commission's approval

Despite the closure, people who benefited from the services still come back to visit.

“I had a tent under that tree for about three years," former Hope City Refuge resident Jon Cimermanci said.

Walking around the campus of Hope City Refuge, Cimermanci reminisces about his seven years of on-and-off time there and shared what the organization means to him.

“Good, good memories. I got my wife back. Got my life back. It was a struggle," Cimermanci said.

The group first presented its development plan to the Planning and Zoning Commission in January and was granted a continuation to give it time to address multiple county code violations, some dating back to 2021.

Hope City Refuge Chief Executive Officer and Kaleo Ministries pastor Marcos Diaz said he is working to resolve the issues in hopes of opening a facility on his land to help at-risk teens and those aging out of the foster care system.

“Safe Space is a program that we can bring an environmental place where it is death, blind, handicap accessible but it’s a safe haven so we can have people come that need resources and a place to transition out of a crisis," Diaz said.

The proposed development would offer 240 units for both emergency and transitional housing and two 9,000-square-foot facilities for a drug treatment center and an educational and administrative building.

The organization is back in front of county officials Thursday to respond to the code violations and find out whether they can move forward with development. 

It's a proposal that Cimermanci said he feels the county needs.

“I just hope everything works out tomorrow (Thursday). You know we’ll be praying," Cimermanci said.

The planning and zoning meeting began Thursday at 9 a.m. ET, and if approved, Hope City Refuge can work with its developing company to start its process.

If planning and zoning approves the rezoning application, it will still have to get the county commission's approval. If planning and zoning denies the group, then Hope City Refuge stated it will appeal.