Orlando will no longer pursue the creation of a homeless shelter in a former work release facility in SoDo, Mayor Buddy Dyer announced Monday.
The site along West Kaley Street was proposed as a potential shelter location by city officials, but after an assessment, it was determined to be “not feasible.”
The proposal was introduced last year with an agreement between Orange County and the City of Orlando that addressed a number of unresolved issues between the two. According to the agreement, the city would have leased the vacant space from the county for $1 per year for seven years.
Since the proposal came out, residents of the neighborhood just a mile east of the facility have campaigned against it. A February town hall meeting saw dozens of residents express concern over the proposed shelter and whether its proximity to their neighborhood would harm the community.
Orange County recently approved a local law that complies with a new Florida law — which went into effect in October 2024 — that prohibits sleeping or camping on public property overnight. The city has since seen local law enforcement arresting homeless people, while local homeless service agencies voice concern over where they’re supposed to go.
Dyer did not state Monday whether Orlando has immediate plans for a different shelter location, although the city did recently announce that officials are eyeing another solution: Greyhound buses transformed into mobile shelters. The seats would be replaced with beds to house up to 20 people in each.
Further information has yet to be announced ahead of consideration by City Council March 24. If approved, the bus shelters could be underway this summer.
“The City of Orlando will continue to work with regional partners, businesses, community groups and residents to find solutions to meet the needs of those experiencing homeless,” Dyer wrote. “This includes our ongoing funding to homeless service providers and initiatives like Accelerate Orlando that are increasing the availability of affordable housing citywide.”
Mayor Dyer’s full statement is available below:
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This article appears in Mar 19-25, 2025.
