Name
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida
Overview
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida has grown from a church outreach program to a full-service agency, which now provides food, shelter, housing options, education, advocacy, support services, comprehensive children's services and case management; all focusing on offering the tools to return homeless people to self-sufficiency.
The
Coalition is the largest provider of homeless services in Central Florida. It is the largest residential facility for children in Central Florida and one of only a few emergency shelters in Orange County that accepts intact families. On a given night, 32 percent of those we serve are children. Their average age is 8.
Last fiscal year, the Coalition:
- Provided over 245,000 nights of shelter
- Provided nearly 79,000 nights of shelter to children
- Served more than 300,000 meals
Location
Both Coalition Campuses are located in downtown Orlando, close to Interstate-4, just 20 minutes from the Orlando International Airport.
Coalition Address
Main Campus
639 W. Central Blvd.
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.426.1250
Fax: 407.426.1269
Women's Residential & Counseling Center (WRCC)
107 E. Hillcrest St.
Orlando, FL 32801
Phone: 407.425.2502
Fax: 407.425.1911
Founding Date
1987
Coalition Services & Programs
The Coalition for the Homeless is more than a shelter; it is a comprehensive program designed to empower homeless men, women and children to become self-sufficient. The Coalition provides food and shelter as well as programs and services including education, job skills training, case management, licensed day care, child development programs and housing placement. Approximately over 750 people call the Coalition home on a given night.
Main Campus
The Main Campus houses the Center for Women and Families (CWF), the Men's Pavilion and nine on-site transitional apartments.
On a given day, up to 240 individuals, including families, single parents, women and children live at the Center for Women and Families. Qualified case managers design self-sufficiency plans for residents at the CWF. Social and emotional stability are the main goals – along with practical goals such as a savings account and financial stability. The CWF also houses the First Steps Shelter Recovery Program for Women, a part of the Coalition's First Steps Substance Abuse Recovery Program.
The Coalition's specialized Child Development Program provides support services, including counseling, for children and their families. Last fiscal year, the child development team identified and treated 91 children who were "at-risk" or "in-crisis." Of the children who completed the program during that time, 71 percent demonstrated improved emotional stability.
The Men's Pavilion is a traditional drop-in shelter that can house up to 375 men. It is the only emergency drop-in shelter for men in Central Florida. Clients are given access to the programs they need to reach independence. The Pavilion is also home to the First Steps Shelter Recovery Program for Men, a component of the Coalition's First Steps Substance Abuse Recovery Program.
The main campus has nine transitional apartments that house the First Steps Transitional Housing Program, where homeless men progressing out of addiction and into self-sufficiency can continue to work out their sobriety.
Women’s Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC)
The Women's Residential and Counseling Center serves as a transitional living facility for two populations: victims of crime who need emergency shelter, and homeless women and their children, who have found employment or are completing their education. Last fiscal year, over 80 percent of the people living at WRCC were victims of crime, predominantly domestic violence. WRCC can accommodate 126 individuals and has 12 emergency beds on-site for victims of violent crimes. A 24-hour crisis line for victims of violent crime is also staffed by WRCC.
Case managers design individual self-sufficiency plans, which may include job training, budget management, counseling, parenting classes or other options chosen to fit the needs of each client. All of the programs and services available on the main campus of the Coalition are also available for residents of WRCC.
The Coalition's Community Housing Programs, Scattered Site and Housing Now, are overseen at WRCC. These programs help re-establish households in the community by offering rental assistance, case management and supportive services.
The services and programs at the Coalition include:
- Child Development Program
- Educational / Learning Lab for children
- On-site Boys and Girls Club
- Art By Coalition Children (ABCs) Program
- Early Childhood Development Center - fully licensed daycare
- Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten
- LifeStrides Adult Education Program, throughOrange County Public Schools
- Goodwill Industries
- Lakeside Behavioral Healthcare, on-site mental healthcounseling
- Parenting Classes
- Community Housing Programs: Scattered Site and Housing Now
- Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Program
- 24-hour Crisis Hotline at WRCC
- First Steps Substance Abuse Recovery Program (men and women)
WEBSITE
www.centralfloridahomeless.org
Driving Directions
Click on the following links for maps to our facilities.
Coalition for the Homeless
Women's Residential & Counseling Center
Maps are provided in PDF format. Click on the link below to download a free copy of
the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Media Contact
Muffet Robinson
muffet.robinson@cflhomeless.org
Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida
Community Relations
407.426.1255 |
