The Community Food & Outreach Center, one of Central Florida’s largest charities helping the hungry, the homeless, and families struggling in poverty, opened its new medical clinic in a ribbon cutting event this morning at their downtown Orlando Campus. The location now becomes first downtown drop-in office location.
A partnership of non-profit organizations made this expansion happen. The Community Food & Outreach Center’s Clinic and Counseling Center is partnering with Health Care Center for Homeless, The Harbor House, and The Grove Counseling Center.
Carol Wick with Harbor House was pleased to be on hand supporting what will become the first public domestic violence drop-in center offering anonymous services to women and families while protecting their privacy. The leading cause for homelessness for women and children is fleeing home to get away from domestic violence. Bakari Burns with Health Care Center for the Homeless, called this an “ideal partnership in large part thanks to location.” This site will also become the first satellite office for HCCH.
“This is not just a job, but a true mission,” said Dr. Chianta Lindsey, who provides medical services to our community at the downtown location for HCCH and through their mobile centers and who will likely help the new outreach center as they open and get started. “I’m glad there are others who share that same vision.”
This expansion will allow the Community Food and Outreach Center to now provide health care services, mental health counseling and domestic violence services to hundreds of families per day on its campus. Officials with the Community Food and Outreach Center said they help over 400 local families every day. Now, struggling Orlando families can receive holistic services in one location.
Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan was on hand for the ribbon cutting, joining Orlando Mayor Dyer and about 3 dozen city officials and board members for the non-profits. “How we didn’t think of this before? One-stop shopping for those in need,” said Commissioner Sheehan.
Mayor Dyer touted the words “partnership” and “collaboration” in his brief comments. Oddly, Mayor Dyer was welcomed as an “advocate and champion” on homeless issues, despite the fact Dyer had members of the Orlando community arrested for feeding the homeless at Lake Eola last year.
There were many uses of the Good Samaritan parable as well, perhaps Mayor Dyer was paying extra close attention to adjust some of his strong-arm policies towards those who are struggling or towards those attempting to help those in need.
Mayor Dyer did not take questions and no specific details on city policies to help the homeless and needy were discussed. The mayor did participate in a brief walk-through of the new facility, commenting that he would be back when it was operational.
