By Kiara Velez, Interning Correspondent for The Apopka Voice
Florida's 'anti-camping' law went into effect last month, banning "unauthorized public camping and sleeping," which may significantly disrupt vulnerable local homeless communities. The new law, which took effect on October 1st, bans unauthorized public camping and sleeping—putting vulnerable Apopka homeless communities at risk of further displacement.
According to a government census on Apopka in 2022, nearly 10% of the population is impoverished, and Apopka homeless residents who had nowhere else to go face the possibility of being pushed off the streets under new restrictions on public sleeping and camping.
The official document defines the ban as "Lodging or residing overnight in a temporary outdoor habitation used as a dwelling or living space and evidenced by the erection of a tent or other temporary shelter, the presence of bedding or pillows, or the storage of personal belongings."
Additionally, on January 1st, local community members can sue the local government if they do not enforce the ban.
How will that affect the unhoused in Apopka?
There are no designated homeless shelters in Apopka. Altamonte Springs, Orlando, and Winter Garden are the nearest cities with facilities, but traveling there is typically out of reach for the unhoused.
Local volunteer organizations have been trying to serve the growing homeless community for years. However, their efforts need more resources and a way to introduce long-term housing.
David Schorejs is a pastor at First Baptist Church in Apopka and facilitates a committee called The Next Step Foundation to combat the homeless issue in Apopka.
"Next Step provides an evening with a hot meal, shower, change of clothes, haircuts, and a message of hope," Shorejs said. "Our goal is to expand to a community effort. The problem has been finding and securing a location to do that. There has to be a mental think tank to figure out the housing component. Someone has to. They have to go somewhere as long as they're on the street. Now that they're not allowed to camp, we have nowhere to shelter them. I mean what do you do with them?"
Next Step is among the volunteer organizations in Apopka working hard to serve the growing homeless population. Mayor Bryan Nelson is on the board of the Next Step Foundation. However, with limited help from the City, it struggles to do more.
In 2023, The Apopka Voice published a four-part series entitled "Homeless in Apopka". At that time, there were more than 450 homeless individuals in the city that used the services of Matthew's Hope, a homeless facility currently serving Winter Garden, Ocoee, Oakland, and Southwest Orlando, according to its founder, Scott Billue.
Now, according to Billue, that number has increased to over 700.
"Twice a week, we send buses from Winter Garden to Apopka to offer transport and help with medical care," Billue said. "We do haircuts, give out clothes, and sometimes even legal or financial issues. Two times a week, Monday and Wednesday, mobile teams go in the field to bring food and hygiene materials and do check-ups."
And during Hurricane Milton, Matthew's Hope was stretched even thinner.
"We have housed several out-of Apopka during Hurricane Milton, and those people lost everything they had; we replaced that for them," Billue said. "They lost their sleeping bags, their clothes, their medication, all they had, and so we are busy now replacing those things and trying to give them dignity and hope."
Billue believes there needs to be a concerted partnership to connect people experiencing homelessness to the resources they need, and the City of Apopka is just not cooperating.
"You have to get everybody to sit down at the table, and that's never happened, and that's the problem," he said." We've invited the possibility of putting a sub-station or a smaller facility in Apopka to do day services, but we need collaboration with private and public centers. Apopka is simply not homeless-friendly."
Matthew's Hope has an effective program in Winter Garden, but it could do more in Apopka if it had the City's embrace.
"We help them help themselves, make a life of independence and self-sustainability. We have a hair salon, a preschool for homeless kids, medical offices, and we are taking the next step, but we need help from the City", said Billue.
The Apopka Voice emailed Nelson on Wednesday, October 30th, to understand his response and work towards collaboration.
"As a member of the Next Foundation Board, we are committed to working with other community partners to help solve the homeless problem here in Northwest Orange County," Nelson said.
Resources for the homeless:
- FindHelp.org - To find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more. Call 407-875-3700 for temporary shelter programs.
- Aspire Health Partners - The Aspire Orange County Access Center connects individuals with the most appropriate services. Potential clients cannot engage with services at Aspire Health Partners without first being seen in the Access Center.
- Matthew's Hope - Fully Independent, faith-based, 501(c)3 non-profit homeless outreach ministry organization serving West Orange County.
- Next Step Foundation - Helping the needy of the Apopka community with their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
To read the HB1365 bill, go here.
