The youth and adults in the Healing Oasis for Peace and Empowerment® (H.O.P.E.) Circle have witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by Black males in the City of Orlando who struggle with homelessness. We see unhoused Black men across our city, whether we’re walking to school or walking to Lake Dot, the need is urgent. Disproportionate arrest rates, which nearly 50% are for the offense of camping, further complicate their lives, trapping them in a cycle of systemic disadvantages. A lack of stable housing hampers their ability to find work and engage fully as contributing citizens. It is heartbreaking to see potential wasted because of a failure to provide the vital support needed to overcome these barriers. 

The City of Orlando currently allocates a mere $1.5 million, which is .1%, of its general fund towards housing and community development. This is woefully insufficient amid the increasing number of people living without homes. According to the 2025 Point-in-Time count, homelessness across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties increased 23% between 2023 to 2025. This translates to 2,781 individuals on any given night. The collaboration between the City of Orlando and the Christian Service Center for the Homeless, which led to the conversion of two buses, also known as 407 Connect, into temporary shelters for nearly 45 individuals, was a commendable initiative. However, it's only a drop in the ocean considering there are about 1,077 adults without children that are homeless on a given night in a shelter or on the street, but only 695 shelter beds. This is a significant housing gap that is not being met.

Our Demand

We are asking the City of Orlando to significantly increase its investment in housing and community development. Specifically, we demand:

• Expand Housing Capacity - Retrofitting at least three 407 Connect buses every year for the next five years to provide stable temporary housing.
  
  
• Acknowledge the Importance of  Wraparound Services - Individuals need case management, workforce development, and housing support to  reintegrate successfully.

By keeping individuals housed consistently and connected to services and eventually placed into long-term housing programs can drastically reduce the rates of re-offending and homelessness as well as increase individual earnings, offering a path toward sustainable living conditions.

Investing in the well-being of our communities enriches us all. It decreases crime, fosters unity, and strengthens our city's economic and social fabric. We urge you to support this petition demanding the City of Orlando allocates more funds to housing and community development initiatives. Your signature is a step toward positive change and hope for a better future for every Orlando resident.

Please sign this petition and make a difference today.