Ministry helps homeless families in U.S. 192 hotels

It used to be a destination for families on vacation, but now U.S. Highway 192 in Kissimmee is turning into a haven for the homeless.

With nowhere else to go, hundreds of homeless families are living in hotel rooms, and now several groups have together to help them and help return 192 to the tourists.

The space where the Rivera brothers play catch is steps away from where their 2-year old sister plays with a doll. Every toy they have is small, because big stuff would take up too much space in the tiny room where they live.

Agatha Foster struggles to describe life at this hotel on 192, where she and William Rivera are raising their children.

"There's nothing for them to do," Foster said, while sobbing. "You don't know who's your neighbor next door. I don't let them go outside."

Two years ago the couple lost their jobs and eventually their home. With no family to help, they ended up here.

"She works in the morning, I work at night. It's just hard," Rivera said.

Right now almost 2,000 are children registered as homeless in Osceola County, so many of them live in hotels. There are 62 school bus stops along 192, just outside of Disney World.

Pastor James Palmer is leading an effort to turn things around. Project 192 outreach is a coalition of local businesses and groups with two goals: Help these families, and hand the hotels back to the tourists.

"It is unacceptable… because we need to return the industry to the industry," Palmer said. "They would come in and that would create jobs and help the economy turn around."

A lot of the stuff packed into this warehouse has been donated by big name hotels in the area… things like mattresses, dressers, even bags of bedding that will go to these families when they move.

In six months, the group has relocated 70 families, including 150 children. Until it's their turn, Foster does her best with a tiny Christmas tree on a table, a makeshift kitchen, clean clothes and a brave smile.

"I gotta be strong and put my head up and keep on moving," Foster said.