ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A controversial homeless resource center is now coming to east Orange County.
Commissioners agreed Tuesday morning to buy property for the center at the intersection of Colonial Drive and Dean Road.
The site is in between Union Park Elementary School and Union Park Middle School, and WFTV’s Lori Brown learned county officials didn't hold a community meeting before approving the site.
“They didn't want to inform us, because they didn't want someone else to be against it,” said Naomi Santiago, who lives across the street of the site.
Mayor Teresa Jacobs explained the price of the property could have gone up if commissioners waited and held a community meeting.
“To have a community meeting after a vote, I think, would be disingenuous, because if I am a member of the public, I would be expecting that I am being invited to give my opinion,” Jacobs said.
Santiago said the county should have told her, but she said the homeless do need to get help somewhere.
“It is best for someone to do something for these people instead of having them all over the place,” Santiago said.
Advocates said there are 28 homeless children attending the nearby school.
“We're seeing a lot of families who have homes but may not have homes tomorrow,” said Karen Akers of the Samaritan Resource Center.
The county is using two federal grants to buy the property for more than $1 million. It will take another $460,000 in county funds for renovations.
Tuesday’s vote was unanimous.
“This is so exciting. It is an answer to prayer,” said Akers.
The resource center could be partially open as early as October. It is expected to be fully functional within a year.