Orlando City Council committed to help the Christian Service Center (Website) in Parramore convert their existing facilities into a comprehensive Day Center for the homeless.
The decision was made last month, to award $6.1 million in funding from federal COVID-19 relief funds along with Community Redevelopment dollars to the local non-profit. The Christian Service Center has been in operation since 1971 and has been located in Parramore since the mid-1980s, providing free meals, mental health assistance, and help with housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Commissioner Robert Stuart retired from his position as executive director for the Christian Service Center in the spring of 2020 and was replaced by Eric Gray, formerly of United Against Poverty Orlando.
“Orlando was also the largest city to not have a place where people can walk in and say, ‘I’m homeless and don’t know what to do,’” according to Executive Director Eric Gray. “We are now the robust front door for newly homeless and long-term homeless alike to enter into the system of care or update their status.”
The Center will soon be adding new outdoor seating, benefits assistance services, ADA showers, onsite storage, mailboxes, and employment training as part of the expansion.
The Christian Service Center is located on a two-acre piece of property located at 808 W. Central Boulevard [GMap] near Exploria Stadium.
