The organization was recently notified by Orange County that it received a $1 million grant to expand its services in Ocoee — installing showers and laundry facilities. But that has put them at a crossroads: Gray doesn't want to accept the money without a long-term commitment from Ocoee to lean into their mission as well.

“The reality is that homelessness has become too large and too complex for any nonprofit to address in isolation," Gray said. "Across Florida, homeless service agencies have to work in real partnership with municipal and county governments, churches, businesses, residents and other providers. That is not about blame or pressure. It is about building a sustainable community response."

Gray said that he has a meeting May 6 with the city and that while he’s not sure what comes next, they are “working on it one step at a time and the city has been a good partner.” The organization has not previously sought out support from the city but now, they are seeking a direct partnership with the city “not in the form of financial support, but really in the form of almost official moral support,” Gray said. What does that look like exactly? Recognition of CSC as a "known entity that is respected and needed and valued in the community."

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“The charities and the churches need to work with the cities and counties all in one plan," he said, adding that otherwise you are "scattershot" about using resources.

Michael Rumer, Ocoee assistant city manager, declined to comment because there is “no active proposal or matter under consideration” for Christian Service Center.

“We’ve had a broad, preliminary discussion on a range of topics and expect to meet again soon,” Rumer said in an email.  

If the Christian Service Center pulls out of Ocoee, it could leave a gap in necessary services. More than 6,500 people were served on site at Christian Service Center’s three central Florida campuses in 2024 and nearly 500 meals a day were served, according to the group’s annual report. 

Those services have become increasingly more crucial amid the ban on public sleeping and shortage of affordable housing. According to Heart of Florida United Way, it costs nearly $91,000 for a family of four to survive in Central Florida, and the National Low Income Housing Coalition ranks Orlando among the worst places to find affordable housing. 

Florida’s public camping and public sleeping law, which passed in 2024, prohibits cities and counties from allowing people to regularly sleep or camp on public property unless designated areas are created under specific requirements. 

In January 2025, the law’s punitive measures went into effect, allowing any resident, business owner or the state attorney general to file a lawsuit against a municipality for not enforcing the ban.

Ocoee has had its own no-camping ordinance since 2001, prohibiting camping on “all public property in the City (sic)” except as designated. That includes “otherwise being in a temporary shelter out-of-doors” and “just sleeping outside.”

Scott Billue, founder of Matthew's Hope, said if Christian Service Center closed in Ocoee, he’s not sure much would change because his organization offers many of the same services. However, he said, it could have an effect on those living in poverty.

“I personally think that would be a foolish waste of money and other resources as they are literally just down the street from us, and we have buses that run through Ocoee every day, providing an array of services for the homeless living there to include medical assistance, mental health care, showers, haircuts, laundry services, transitional housing opportunities and more,” he said. 

Martha Are, executive director of Homeless Services Network, disagreed, saying any drop in services will have a negative impact. 

“People are very, very vulnerable right now,” she said. “We're getting ready to get into the heat of summer, where we know that many people struggle mightily with day after day of high temperatures. There's a need for people to have places to go and existing programs are already struggling to meet the need.”

Are said it is also vital for there to be options for people to choose from, the same way people want options for what doctor or therapist they use. “Sometimes one service environment works better for an individual, and you can get better outcomes when you have some options for people,” Are said. “So when you limit that, when you limit the options, then you're limiting the opportunities for meaningful assistance and positive outcomes.”