Goodwill Industries of Central Florida hosted a resource fair at Orlando Union Rescue Mission on Aug. 28, bringing employment, legal, education, banking and health services directly to families staying at the shelter.
Guests, many of them single parents, were able to meet with representatives from the Adult Literacy League, Community Legal Services, Florida Blue, Cristo Rey Orlando High School and Addition Financial Credit Union, along with Goodwill employment specialists and Prosperity Platform coaches.
“When services come directly to our facility, they become more accessible for the families we serve,” Orlando Union Rescue Mission Guest Services Director LeeDawn Carpenter said in a prepared statement.
The event comes as Orlando continues to expand its services-first approach to homelessness. The city says homelessness in Orange County increased 23% in 2024, driven in part by rising housing costs and the gap between incomes and rent. Orlando has set a goal of cutting unsheltered homelessness in half by 2027 and ensuring no child spends the night on city streets…