Giving the Homeless a Better Quality of Life
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Community Lifestyles Sports For the latest Peter Covino reviews activities, events GHS coach the space thriller honored by and classes see ... “Gravity ” ... Warner University Page B-4 Page B-1 Page A-6 Serving Kissimmee, St. Cloud, Poinciana, Harmony, Narcoossee, BVL 117TH YEAR • SATURDAY EDITION • 50 CENTS OCTOBER 5, 2013 Kissimmee Giving the homeless a better quality of life Commission approves red light camera hearing chambers, mobility fee updates The Kissimmee city commissioners approved to turn their chambers and the city clerk’s office into a hearing rooms for red light camera infrac- tions Tuesday. See page A-2 St. Cloud Development approved in St. Cloud News-Gazette Photo/Andrew Sullivan Terra Bella, formally Representatives from Osceola County, the city of Kissimmee and nonprofit The Transition House gathered Tuesday morning for a ribbon-cutting known as Conservation ceremony for Victory Village, a low-income housing project located on West U.S. Highway 192. at Stevens Plantation, will have 324 single-fam- By Ken Jackson next month for the 20 rent-controlled, expanded into one, two and three- organization celebrating its 20th anni- ily homes, down from Staff Writer unfurnished units, with the first families bedroom apartments that feature ame- versary of providing transitional hous- 383 originally, with lots expected to move in around Nov. 1. nities such as hardwood floors, Formica ing in Osceola County, was chosen by expanding to 50, 60 and Osceola County officials are address- The project takes some very low- kitchen countertops and energy-effi- the county in August 2012 to develop 70 feet in width and indi- ing the issue of homelessness and priced motel rooms out of the inven- cient refrigerators and air-conditioning the project. Transition House part- vidual homes expanding families living in local hotels along the tory of an area not considered part of units. The complex also includes a nered with the federal Department of to a minimum of 1,300 tourist corridor through a novel new the tourist corridor anymore. Victory laundry room and family play area with Housing and Urban Development and square-feet. approach. Village is located along a U.S. 192 bus grills on site. the Florida Department of Economic See page A-3 For the first time in the state of Flor- route just west of Medieval Times and In addition, the Community Hope Opportunity and its Neighborhood Sta- ida, a former hotel has been renovated, the west Kissimmee Walmart. Center of Osceola, a resource center bilization Program to make Victory Vil- retrofitted and turned into apartments “People who work need transporta- that helps the homeless find jobs, hous- lage a reality. geared toward families who want safe tion,” said County Commissioner Mike ing and utility bill assistance, is right “The name of it is right, it really took housing and, in turn, a better quality Harford, whose district 1 includes the across the parking lot. a village to construct,” Harford said. of life. U.S. 192 corridor. “Some of the other The project cost $1.8 million, much Transition House CEO Tom Griffin Officials cut the ribbon on Victory hotels in the area might be salvageable, of it coming from a federal grant, said everything fell into place the right Village, the former Four Winds Hotel, but I hope to see that something like with the rest generated through private way to make Victory Village happen. on West U.S. Highway 192 Tuesday. this works.” donors. Applications will be taken during the The former motel rooms have been The Transition House, a nonprofit See Homeless, page A-3 Has the government shutdown affected your life in any way? Harmony mother fighting to • Yes, a lot. Family Fun Day planned for • No. • A little bit. clear 3rd grade son’s name • No opinion. those living in highway motels By Fallan Patterson “The model of connecting tents or with family or friends. By Ken Jackson Hicks, another parent who For the News-Gazette people and becoming a one- Niki Whisler, Osceola Coun- Staff Writer spoke at Tuesday’s meeting, Since the Community Hope stop shop is really working,” ty’s homeless advocate coordi- If Bonnie Bennett is going said it was during play time Vote at Center of Osceola County Downey said. nator, estimated the number to get reconsideration about on the school playground www.around opened six months ago, the Area agencies such as Kis- of homeless children at around the treatment of her son by when the child allegedly held osceola.com organization has added 165 simmee-based women’s shel- 3,800 in Osceola County, due his Harmony school admin- his thumb and index finger people to its case management ter Helping Others Make the to those children not being istrators, it’s likely going to up to symbolize a gun while plan, which helps them find Effort, the Salvation Army, of school-age or those that have to come from those who playing a cops-and-robbers Results from the housing, food, employment Covenant House and the haven’t been indentified yet. run the school themselves, type game. Sept. 28 Question of and other assistance. Osceola County Council on While the county lacks the Osceola County School Dis- Bonnie Bennett said her the week: The organization is hosting Aging have office space and funds to help financially sup- trict officials said at Tuesday’s son was not given proper staff that regularly meet with port the Hope Center, Whisler a Family Fun Day today from School Board meeting. due process before being clients to assess their needs. meets clients at the organiza- Who do you think has 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its facility, Jordan Bennett, a third- suspended and “labeled as Warren Hoagland, commu- tion whom she helps through the most difficult job? 2198 Four Winds Blvd., Kis- grader at Harmony Commu- a violent child” after what nity services director at the the rental assistance grant. simmee, for the families living nity School, was suspended she thought was a seemingly Council on Aging, said he was The grant allows Whisler to • Police officer. – in the motels along the U.S. from school for one day innocent act. ecstatic over the partnership help between 28 and 30 fami- 36% Highway 192 corridor. recently after displaying what “I’m asking that the situa- with the Hope Center. lies find stable housing. tion be thoroughly investigat- • Firefighter. – 13% It’s those families the orga- the school called “a violent “The Hope Center is a fan- “A lot of my clients don’t ed,” she said. “My son was • Teacher. – 46% nization seeks to help. classification of an act,” his tastic way for us to reach out to have transportation so it’s eas- judged and labeled without • Social worker. – Considered a “one-stop mother said. that side of the county where ier for them to meet me at the all information. I’m making 5% shop” for homeless and While neither side would there’s a lot of blight,” he said. Hope Center,” she said. “The sure my son is judged and low-income families in West elaborate on the details of “We find a lot of our families numbers keep growing. I know punished appropriately.” Osceola County, the organiza- the act that got Jordan sus- there.” they’ve taken in an incredible pended — the school dis- Deputy Superintendent of tion aims to meet all of the Three days a week, the amount of families. I know the needs a person or family is ask- trict cannot comment due to Council on Aging’s “Building biggest need is housing.” confidentiality laws — Karen See Suspended, page A-3 ing for without pointing them Strong Families” case manager The families also need food, to other agencies. meets with clients at the Hope much of which is provided by Index “Each person’s case is differ- Center, working with motel the Council on Aging, includ- ent,” said Mary Lee Downey, families to find stable housing. ing fresh produce purchased executive director of the Hope The energy specialist also from local farmers through the Shooting suspect arrested Center and director of missions meets with people at the Hope organization’s Farm to Table Page A4, Editorial at Community Presbyterian Center to help with utility assis- program. victed felon. Church of Celebration, which tance. “For a lot of our families, The search for the sus- Page A6, Sports helped set up the organiza- “It’s instant clients,” Hoa- this is the only way they get Police news pect began on Sept. 24 when tion. “We’re trying to look at gland said. “The need is so fresh fruits and vegetables,” officers responded to a call Page B4, Community Kissimmee Police Depart- the whole person and connect great, I don’t know if we could Hoagland said. “Out west, it’s at 308 E. Orange St. in ref- ment officers arrested a sus- Page B1, Lifestyles them to what they need.” have enough agencies out a food desert, meaning they erence to a weapons viola- Most people seeking help at there.” lack enough grocery stores.” pect accused of shooting tion. On the scene, officers Page C1, Classi ed the Hope Center reside in the This school year, the Osceo- The Hope Center also into an occupied home on could see where the projec- motels along U.S. Highway la County School District has helps clients find jobs, prepare Wednesday. tile entered through the front Page C3, Legals 192; next are the chronically identified 2,300 students that résumés, practice for inter- Raymond Gerena-Ortiz, window, traveled through the Page B6, Obituaries homeless, and one-third are meet the Families in Transition views and even dress properly 26, from Kissimmee, was front porch and living room those living in unfit habitation criteria, meaning they live with through the professional wear charged with shooting into an area and lodged into the kitch- such as cars and tents.