Coalition for the Homeless builds new Orlando center for women

Coalition for the Homeless builds new Orlando center for women

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A $19 Million Blueprint for Orlando’s Parramore Neighborhood

“It will help us expand our program by 40 to 50 percent on how we will impact the community,” Leon Kirkpatrick of the Coalition for the Homeless said regarding a major new construction effort in downtown Orlando.

A new six-story, 105,000-square-foot facility is taking shape along North Terry Avenue in Orlando’s Parramore neighborhood, designed to replace a 75-year-old building and significantly expand resources for unhoused women and families, clickorlando.com reported. The $19 million project, spearheaded by the Coalition for the Homeless, aims to reshape emergency and transitional housing options in the area by replacing aging infrastructure with modern facilities that incorporate an on-site medical clinic alongside expanded bed capacity.

Bridging the Gap From Temporary Quarters to Stability

The facility will add hundreds of beds for temporary emergency shelter. Crucially, the blueprint also addresses a persistent regional service gap by introducing dedicated transitional housing units designed to bridge the transition from temporary quarters to permanent stability.

Orlando City Commissioner Shan Rose, who represents District 5, emphasized the importance of this architectural and programmatic shift.

“It also includes transitional housing, and that’s what most of our shelters do not have,” Rose said.

Parallel Investments Across the Municipal Network

The start of construction comes as local municipal leaders and nonprofit networks ramp up initiatives targeting unsheltered homelessness. The city of Orlando has rolled out a comprehensive action plan focusing on expanding permanent housing pathways and streamlining access to social services.

Other recent investments run parallel to the Coalition for the Homeless initiative. The Christian Service Center for the Homeless recently completed a $7 million renovation project adding a new clinic and shower facilities. Meanwhile, the 407 Connect program, deployed roughly a year ago, continues to operate a mobile overnight shelter option designed to reach individuals on the streets.

Meeting People Where They Are on the Streets

Commissioner Rose pointed out that decentralized outreach remains vital to these municipal strategies as the community tackles ongoing challenges.

Coalition for the homeless

“We are meeting people where they are in their unfortunate unhoused situation and helping them get their lives back together,” Rose said.

Construction on the North Terry Avenue facility is slated for completion in the first quarter of 2028.

Orlando moves forward with plans to expand Coalition for the Homeless shelter

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