ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Walt Disney World has announced it will donate 80 acres of land for affordable housing to more than a thousand people in Central Florida.

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The development will be located in the heart of Flamingo Crossings.

The park, county and employees said it’s something desperately needed right now.

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“We’re excited to share we’re earmarking 80 acres of our land to create a new affordable housing development right here in Central Florida,” Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahle said.

The theme park will work with a third party to build 1,300 units for families and people who work in the area.

The affordable housing crisis is something a lot of people in Orange County are fighting against.

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Clerk of Courts data shows eviction filings have gone up since the moratorium expired last August, and overall rent prices in Florida have spiked 27% since June 2016.

While Disney’s development plans are still in early planning stages in terms of income caps and construction dates, it’s something Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said can only benefit the area.

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“We want to move the needle,” Demings said. “We want to see additional workforce housing closer to where people work and live so we know that this is going to be a critical part.”

Universal and the county are also working on separate affordable housing projects of their own.

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