msgbartop
Homeless services in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties
msgbarbottom

23 Dec 09 HSN Awarded $3.6 Million in Funding

HUD announced today that it has awarded to Homeless Services Network more than $3.6 million dollars in funding for Supportive Housing Program and Shelter Plus Care Program projects. This funding will allow HSN’s currently operating programs to continue their good work throughout the City of Orlando and Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties. HSN’s application for the funding of new projects is still pending HUD’s review process.

Here is a summary of the award amounts: (more…)

Tags: , , ,

04 Jan 10 Volunteer for Project Homeless Connect!

On Friday, February 12, 2010, Homeless Services Network (HSN) is presenting another Project Homeless Connect event at Discovery Church.

Volunteers are needed to make this event a success. Volunteers can perform any of the following tasks:

  • Intake (one-on-one interviews with homeless veterans, completing a simple intake form)
  • Shepherd  (assist veterans as they navigate the many services available)
  • Distribution (hand out pre-assembled donations of food bags, clothing and backpacks)
  • Showers/Clothing (maintain the shower area and assist with selection of underwear and clothing)
  • Set-up/Take down (arrange/remove tables, chairs, signs)
  • Crowd control (direct veterans and volunteers to registration; answer basic event questions)

Registration: The deadline for volunteer registration is Friday, January 29. Click here to fill out an online form.

All volunteers must attend training on Tuesday, February 9, at either 12pm-1pm or 6:30pm-7:30pm at Discovery Church (4400 S. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32806). Volunteers will receive their task assignments during check-in on the day of the event, Friday, February 12.

If you have questions. call HSN at 407-893-0133 or email us at volunteer {at} hsncfl(.)org

Tags:

21 Dec 09 Christmas Meal for the Homeless in Sanford

A message from Ernest Hamilton, Executive Director, Rescue Outreach Mission of Sanford:

Rescue Outreach Mission will have it’s Annual Christmas meal for the Homeless and needy on Thursday, December 24, 2009 in the Dinning Hall located in the Men’s Division which is located at 1701 West 13th Street, Sanford, FL 32771.

Meals will be served at 11 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Tags: ,

16 Dec 09 Christmas Banquet for the Homeless

The Orlando Union Rescue Mission is having a Christmas Banquet for the homeless on Wednesday December 23, 2009, at their Men’s Division which is located at 410 W. Central Blvd. in Orlando.

Serving times will be 11:30 AM to about 2 PM.

16 Dec 09 Homeless Memorial Service

The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida held a candlelight memorial on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, in the chapel at First Presbyterian Church in Orlando to commemorate the lives of 29 homeless people who died in Central Florida during the past year. Orange County Commissioner Linda Stewart, Orlando City Commissioner Robert Stuart, and Senior Pastor David Swanson of First Presbyterian Church were guest speakers.

This ceremony is held annually by the Homeless Services Network on or around to December 21st, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year, to recognize and pay tribute to the homeless people who have died on our streets or in our shelters from illness or conditions directly related to their homelessness. In many cases this service is the only commemoration of the life and passing of these individuals.

Advocates, friends, community leaders and service providers hope this event brings attention to the need for more resources for rent and utility assistance to prevent homelessness and the development of drop-in centers and additional shelter beds for the growing number of homeless in Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties.

More than 125 cities across the nation sponsor similar events including vigils, graveside ceremonies, plays, marches and special religious services to commemorate National Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day, which is organized by the National Coalition for the Homeless. This was the eighth annual vigil to be held in Orlando.

Those we honored:

Tony Billingsley Joe Morgan
Joel Boner Robert Doyle Nail
Ricky Burdette Bruce Nutter
William Carr Ricky Lee Price
Wallace Chance Brenda Kay Revel
John “Jack” Clements Juan Izet Sarat
McArthur Davis Raymond Setti
Michael Downs Charles Shafer
William Gabbert Roger Stickland
Robert Godfroy Thomas Strickland
Rita Guinn James Teftller
John Helsabeck J.R. Torres
Paul Jenkins Steve van Gorder
Ellis Johnson Luther Walker
Benjamin Lavin Wendell Wright
Ora James Light Michelle (no last name; client of Calvary Assembly)
Nestor Lopez

Brian Nichols, Pastor, First Vagabonds Church

14 Dec 09 ‘Tis The Season For Giving

HSN is giving away its old copier, an old, but sturdy and serviceable Panasonic FP-7750. It’s black&white only and doesn’t have any really fancy features. We are giving it away because we did upgrade to a unit that does have fancy features. We kept this one around as a backup, but it’s really just taking up space now. We think that someone out there will benefit from having it more than we will.our old copier

We would like to give it away to an agency that is a 501c3 nonprofit that participates in the Continuum of Care of homeless services. Whomever wants it will be responsible for transporting it and for the unit’s ongoing maintenance. We do know of a local company that still supports the product and we’ll even throw in a free copy of the owner’s manual.

If you are interested in having this copier, please send an email to resources {at} hsncfl(.)org by January 20.  We expect several agencies will ask for this unit, in which case, we’ll have a public drawing to determine who receives it.

09 Dec 09 Homeless Remembrance 12/15/2009

Please help us remember the homeless who died in 2009!

On Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 9:00 a.m., HSN will be holding a brief memorial service in partnership with First Presbyterian Church of Orlando to honor the more than 20 homeless men, women and children who died on the streets of our region this year. In most cases, this memorial service is the only one held to mark their lives and their passing. Some family members of those who died will be attending.

Please come to the memorial service from 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church’s chapel at 106 East Church Street, Orlando, FL 32801. Senior Pastor David Swanson and Orange County Commissioner Linda Stewart will be speaking, as will representatives of the City of Orlando. Most importantly, a candle will be lit for each homeless person who died this year.

We know it’s challenging to find the time to attend yet another function during the holiday season – but this one is a unique occasion. We hope to see you there. You can find directions online or call HSN for more information (407-893-0133 x107).

09 Dec 09 DCF Video of Project Homeless Connect

The Florida Department of Children and Families has released some video from our Project Homeless Connect event in downtown Orlando last Friday, 12/4.

Tags: , , , ,

07 Dec 09 Project Homeless Connect by the Numbers

On December 4, 2009, Project Homeless Connect at the Downtown Orlando Recreation Center assisted 592 clients – despite pouring rain for most of the day. More than 270 volunteers happily took on the challenge and were instrumental in delivering life-changing services. Here’s just a snapshot of the number of services that clients received:

  • 852 meals
  • 592 individuals received grocery bags of nonperishable food and clothing
  • 96 families received food stamps
  • 262 individuals received birth certificate and/or IDs
  • 121 persons received medical care
  • 112 adults completed Workforce Central Florida job referrals and 30 adults were interviewed by employers for available jobs!
  • 25 clients completed HIV testing and counseling
  • 95 clients took hot showers and 42 clients got hair cuts from Paul Mitchell staff
  • 168 clients received shelter referrals and 15 clients were moved into housing as of Monday, December 7, 2009.

Homeless Services Network would like thank all of the volunteers and service providers without whom this event would not be possible! You should all be proud of the impact you are making on the lives of homeless men, women and children in our community!

Tags: , , ,

03 Dec 09 Free H1N1 Flu Vaccine in Seminole County

The following announcement comes from Ernest Hamilton, Executive Director of the Rescue Outreach Mission in Sanford:

The Seminole County Health Department will provide FREE H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccine to all who are interested. The Health Department will set up in our main dining hall at Rescue Outreach Mission this Saturday, December 5th, 10am – 2pm.

The Rescue Outreach Mission is at 1301 W. 13th Street, Sanford, FL 32771.

Tags: ,