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March 20, 2009

Orlando churches join to tackle homeless problem

First Presbyterian leads effort to open downtown homeless service center

by Toni Montgomery
Special to Presbyterian News Service

Case Thorp, associate pastor of Orlando’s First Presbyterian Church, in what will be the Downtown Orlando Homeless Service Center.

Editor’s note: This is the ninth in a series of stories about congregations engaged in significant outreach and evangelism ministries, reflecting the General Assembly’s commitment to “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide.” ― Jerry L. Van Marter

ORLANDO, FL ― The best way to fix a community problem is to involve the whole community. 

So say leaders of the Downtown Orlando Homeless Service Center (DOHSC), an ambitious project undertaken by First Presbyterian Church of Orlando ― a congregation of Central Florida Presbytery ― in conjunction with other downtown Orlando churches.

Their vision for the project is to grow the existing ministry with the area’s homeless and to engage religious, community and business leaders to truly address the problem of a growing homeless population in central Florida and offer solutions. 

DOHSC got off the ground in the first place thanks to a merging of needs ― needs that when addressed will further help “Grow Christ’s Church Deep and Wide,” as promised in an action of the 218th PC(USA) General Assembly last summer.

First Presbyterian's homeless ministry ― the Compassion Corner ― has operated on-site for seven years. It offers local homeless a place to gather for Bible study, spiritual counseling, a hot cup of coffee and information about social services that may be available for their assistance. 

It’s a popular program, drawing 50-100 people on weekdays. But it was all happening in only 800 square feet, not at all adequate for the number of people seeking help. It became necessary to relocate the program this year and while a temporary facility was found at nearby Trinity Lutheran Church, that space will only be available for 12-18 months. A longer term solution was needed.

Enter St. George Orthodox Church, a small Antiochan Orthodox congregation that owns a 16,000 square foot vacant building behind their church. Developers have made offers on the property over the years, but the church has always turned them down, feeling there was something else in store for the building. 

St. George have visions of a multicultural center to serve their congregation and neighborhood, but have lacked the resources to realize their goal. The Rev. Case Thorp, an associate pastor at First Presbyterian, realized immediately that the property was perfect for what he had in mind.

The building is on church property, but in what Thorp calls a “dead space,” behind the loading dock of the Orlando Public Library and next to a switch building for AT&T. It’s also located next to Lake Eola, a downtown park that is one of only two places, along with the library, where the homeless can legally spend the day, a situation that makes local businesses, library officials, and city government unhappy.  

Several counties joined together to form the Regional Commission on Homelessness for Central Florida, a group tasked with addressing the growing homeless population in central Florida and coming up with possible solutions.  From that commission came a plan called “Ten to End,” which included a suggestion to set up regionally located drop-in centers, places where the homeless can go and feel welcomed and have access to basic facilities, social services, and information. 

With that government proposal, an ideal location just waiting for a good use, and First Presbyterian’s need to move and expand their existing program, it became apparent that merging all of these interests into one plan would provide a “win-win” for everyone in the community. 

It also became apparent that one congregation or government body wouldn’t be sufficient to succeed. With First Presbyterian’s leadership, five downtown churches have now banded together to launch DOHSC. 

The building that will house the Downtown Orlando Homeless Service Center, expected to open in the fall of 2010. Photos courtesy of First Presbyterian Church, Orlando.

Thorp also hopes local businesses will be supportive, pointing out the advantages of providing a place other than the streets for the homeless to spend time. He says several merchants have already inquired about what will be needed and hopes that interest turns into financial support for the project. While the city has not become involved financially, it has endorsed the project and Thorp hopes for more involvement.

Right now, work is going into what the finished center will look like. The building has three levels and the plan is to turn the basement level into a day facility with a lounge, showers, laundry, computers, phones, and a kitchen. The center can also be used as a mailing address so users can receive mail.

The street level will become the multicultural center that has been St. George’s dream, incorporated into the project design in exchange for rent-free use of the building for the center. The rest of first floor will be used as office space for DOHSC and, Thorp hopes, for field offices for area social service agencies. 

“Many of these agencies have offices in different parts of town, and it isn’t always optimal to put someone on a cross-town bus when they need to visit these offices,” he says. He hopes to make it easier to get people connected to the services they need by having a presence on site at least a few days a week. 

The top floor will be a shared space, with a fellowship hall and classrooms that can be used to conduct Bible studies, job training and life skills programs. 

The renovation will cost about $2 million and operating costs are expected to be about $500,000 a year, so the search is on for a fundraising coordinator. First Presbyterian has made an initial pledge and a recent fundraiser, “Dancing With the Pastors” ― a dance competition modeled after the hit TV show and featuring First Presbyterian’s pastor David Swanson ― launched the public phase of the campaign. The event raised more than $50,000.

The timetable for the opening of the center depends on how fast funds can be raised. Thorp’s hope is to begin renovations by next spring with a goal of opening in fall of 2010.