Orlando City Council Approves Mobile Shelters for Homeless Relief

The Orlando City Council has voted to approve the 407 Connect Project, Central Florida’s first mobile shelters for the homeless, despite vocal opposition. 

The program, which will convert two Greyhound-style buses into overnight shelters, aims to provide nearly 40 beds for homeless individuals in Downtown Orlando. The buses will be stationed at the Christian Service Center for the Homeless, where they will operate seven nights a week.

Eric Gray, Executive Director of the Christian Service Center, highlighted the simplicity and effectiveness of the mobile shelter concept. "We were really impressed with its simplicity. It’s not a complicated process. 

Everything is very clean, and it checks a lot of boxes," said Gray. "One of the challenges we always face when introducing shelter in a community is the 'Not In My Backyard' problem. This mobile solution offers flexibility, if someone in the community objects, we can just move the shelter to a different location."

Gray also emphasized the importance of ongoing discussions about homelessness. "I think one of the most exciting things is that we’re finally having these conversations in the community. We haven’t had serious discussions about shelters for unsheltered adults and children in 30 years," said Gray.

The mobile shelters will operate on a set schedule. During the day, the buses will be parked in offsite city parking areas, ensuring they are out of sight. In the evening, the buses will be relocated to the Christian Service Center, where they will offer guests a safe place to sleep, access to showers, laundry facilities, and breakfast. "We’ll pick the buses up around 7:00 p.m. and bring them here. People will have access to the buses from about 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Then, we clean and reset the buses for the next night," said Gray. 

The program also aims to challenge misconceptions about people experiencing homelessness. "About 60% of the people we work with have full-time jobs. Another 20% have part-time jobs. The rest are usually minors, seniors, or those with severe disabilities," Gray said. "This is a population that's reflective of the community as a whole."

Commissioner Robert F. Stuart, of District 3, expressed support for the project’s potential to inspire broader change. "It’s a great way to show other local governments that this kind of out-of-the-box solution is both practical and cost-effective," said Stuart.

The city will fund the 407 Connect Project through its Accelerate Orlando program and the Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Agency, with a total budg

et of $1.8 million for the three-year initiative. After three years, the city plans to reassess the program’s success.