A plan to help homeless people get off the street is currently in motion with the 407 Connect project, a partnership between the city of Orlando and the Christian Service Center for the Homeless.
As the 2025 Point-In-Time count revealed that 2,781 people were found living in shelters, inside their cars, or outdoors on a single night — including 1,090 who were living unsheltered in the Orlando Metro area — leaders are turning to a mobile shelter solution to help address the issue.
The program will provide overnight accommodations for 42 people by converting two buses into mobile shelters.
“Things have been moving really fast, and we’re excited about bringing them to the community and really starting to make an impact on the variety of things that challenge our community. One of those things being those less fortunate,” said David Barilla, executive director for the city of Orlando’s Downtown Development Board and Community Redevelopment Agency.
The city partnered with the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Christian Service Center for the Homeless to launch the 407 Connect project, which consists of two buses that are being transformed into overnight homeless shelters.
“We could potentially get over 400 people off the streets,” Barilla said. “And we see that as really making an impact and making progress forward for Orlando.”