Orlando Council Approves Mobile Homeless Shelters with Partner

The Orlando City Council has approved the '407 Connect' program, in partnership with the Christian Service Center, to convert two Greyhound buses into mobile shelters offering temporary housing for homeless individuals. The initiative aims to house 40 people per night, connecting them to permanent housing with a projected success rate of 85%. The buses, known as 'Dignity Buses,' will be stationed overnight at the Christian Service Center and staffed with security personnel. The city has allocated $350,000 for the purchase and $3 million for operations over the next three years. Despite some residents' concerns, the project replaces a previously canceled plan for a larger shelter and aims to provide an innovative and flexible solution to homelessness. While Commissioner Bakari Burns expressed concerns about staffing costs, supporters view it as a creative approach to a longstanding issue.