From Staff Reports and the Orange County Newsroom
In Summary:
Orange County has awarded $271,870 in Community Development Block Grant funding to Matthew’s Hope Ministries to expand shower facilities at its Winter Garden Drop-In Center. The nonprofit serves residents across West Orange County, including Apopka, through mobile outreach, partnerships, and planned initiatives like a sleeper bus program. The funding is part of a broader county effort to support housing, infrastructure, and homelessness services during National Community Development Week.
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As Orange County marks National Community Development Week, one local nonprofit’s expansion highlights how federal funding is translating into direct, on-the-ground services for some of the region’s most vulnerable residents—including in Apopka.
At the center of that effort is Matthew’s Hope Ministries, which received $271,870 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding this fiscal year to expand shower facilities at its Drop-In Center in Winter Garden—an upgrade that will directly impact residents across West Orange County, including those in Apopka.
"We are absolutely thrilled," said Scott Billue, Founder of Matthew's Hope. "As things stand now, we’re in a facility that was made for half as many people as we’re currently serving, with a large number of those being cared for coming out of Apopka."
Founded in 2010, Matthew’s Hope serves individuals experiencing homelessness through a wide range of services—from meals and clothing to medical care, job assistance, and long-term stability programs.
While its primary campus is in Winter Garden, the organization’s footprint extends into Apopka through outreach, partnerships, and new initiatives designed to serve the city’s growing homeless population.
Matthew’s Hope regularly serves Apopka residents through mobile outreach, connecting them to showers, laundry, haircuts, meals, and case management resources. The organization also collaborates with local churches and community partners in Apopka to provide support services and donation drives, including collection sites within the city.
More recently, Apopka has become a key part of one of the nonprofit’s most ambitious efforts: a planned sleeper bus program to provide safe, temporary overnight accommodations for people experiencing homelessness.
That initiative—developed in partnership with the City of Apopka and Orange County—is expected to roll out in 2026, with Apopka serving as the program's launch point in West Orange County.
The expansion of shower facilities funded through the CDBG program ties directly into that broader ecosystem of services.
Access to hygiene services is often one of the biggest barriers facing individuals trying to secure employment, attend medical appointments, or regain a sense of normalcy. By increasing capacity at its Winter Garden location, Matthew’s Hope will be able to serve more people from across the region—including Apopka—reducing wait times and improving access to one of the most basic, yet essential, human needs.
The funding comes as part of Orange County’s broader investment in housing and community development programs.
This year, the county awarded $3.5 million in CDBG funding to 20 nonprofit organizations, supporting everything from public services to capital improvement projects and housing rehabilitation. An additional $604,195 in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funding was distributed to seven nonprofits focused on homelessness services.
While some of the larger allocations are aimed at major construction projects—such as the $1.44 million awarded to the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida for a new emergency shelter—smaller, targeted investments like the one supporting Matthew’s Hope are designed to address immediate, day-to-day needs.
For Matthew’s Hope, that means continuing a model built around accessibility and relationships.
The organization does not operate as a traditional shelter or soup kitchen. Instead, it focuses on meeting people where they are—offering consistent access to services while helping individuals move toward independence and self-sufficiency.
During National Community Development Week, Orange County officials say the goal is to highlight exactly that kind of impact—how federal dollars, when directed through local partnerships, can translate into meaningful change in people’s daily lives.
In Apopka, that impact is already visible—and expanding.
For many residents navigating homelessness, Matthew’s Hope is not just a service provider. It is often the first step toward stability, connection, and a path forward.
Notable organizations receiving funds include:
View the complete list of recipients here.
Key Points:
- Matthew’s Hope received $271,870 in CDBG funding to expand shower facilities
- The nonprofit serves Apopka residents through outreach, partnerships, and regional programs
- Expanded hygiene services aim to improve access to employment, healthcare, and stability
- Orange County awarded $3.5 million in CDBG funding and $604,195 in ESG funding to nonprofits this year
- The investment highlights how federal funding supports both large projects and direct community services
