Massive transport buses coming to Brevard County to help house the homeless

No one wants to build a new homeless shelter in Brevard County, so buses could soon be used to house the homeless. 

The Brevard Homeless Coalition is spearheading the new idea to give people a safe place to sleep as Florida’s new anti-camping law ramps up. 

"Most communities don’t want a shelter, and this will be an opportunity in our case, having three buses, 60 people off the streets at night," said Scott Billue, who founded Matthew’s Hope Ministries, which serves the homeless in Brevard and Orange counties. 

Matthew’s Hope is one nonprofit ready to manage the new buses that are in the works thanks to the Brevard Homeless Coalition.

"Bring a fleet of multiple buses to span throughout Brevard County to try and bring some low barrier options to our community which we have none at this point in time," said Amber Carroll, the executive director for the coalition. 

Carroll said Brevard County doesn’t have any low barrier shelters where people can go in a crisis.

Matthew’s Hope is only able to run a 24/7 shelter this week because of the extreme cold.

"I started shivering, and that’s when I knew it was time to head indoors," said Thomas Frost, who’s currently staying at the shelter with his wife. 

Melissa Frost is already worried about where they’ll go when the shelter shuts down.

"After that, we go back to our tents," said Melissa, who’s also scared she’ll be arrested because of the state’s new anti-camping law

The new buses could help families like the Frosts. Dozens of people would at least have a safe place to sleep for a night.

"Bring those buses together during the day to turn them over, flip them, clean sheets, disinfect to get them prepped for the night," Carroll said.

Buying three buses will cost $750,000 and the homeless coalition wants to have them up and running by July.

"Maybe it could help. Maybe," concluded Frost. 

This bus idea is just a band-aid to the overall homelessness crisis in Central Florida. Carroll said the county desperately needs more housing supply with wraparound services to keep people off the street. 

The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Brevard Homeless Coalition and Matthew’s Hope Ministries.

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