ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A nonprofit focused on issues related to homelessness is taking steps to get approval for a shelter for homeless veterans.
For the past few years, State of Hope has partnered with management at Lee Gardens Extended Stay in Orlando to house homeless veterans.
“They deserve a place to call home,” said Dr. Eileen Diaz, the president of State of Hope.
News 6 tagged along for a tour of Lee Gardens on Wednesday, as Diaz welcomed representatives from Central Florida organizations that help people experiencing homelessness.
Diaz is hoping to partner with the organizations in an effort to provide wrap-around services for her clients, including health care, therapy, and anything else they need to get them back on their feet and self-sufficient.
“What I’m trying to do is integrate all of it into one place,” Diaz said.
State of Hope must undergo a process to get Lee Gardens approved as an emergency shelter. Re-zoning might be required, but Orange County Commissioner Kelly Semrad, who joined the tour, appeared optimistic.
“I think we have a chance,” Semrad said. “And I think that by putting all these people together, we have a chance to make a difference in people’s lives.”
Diaz said there are 45 veterans currently at Lee Gardens. She is hoping that once Lee Gardens is designated as a shelter, all 143 units in the building will be occupied by veterans.
In the 2025 Point-in-Time count by Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, 210 homeless veterans were counted, with 83 of them unsheltered.
She envisions a shelter where veterans can transition into short-term and long-term housing — options that she says will be available under the same roof.
“We want to give them the support that they really deserve,” she said.
State of Hope is looking for volunteers to help with transportation, donation pickup, scheduling fun activities for the veterans, cleaning rooms and other activities. If you would like to help, you can go to the State of Hope website HERE.
If you think you can help by donating, they have a number of ways you can do that, including an Adopt a Veteran program. Just go to the donation page on the State of Hope website.