Aisha’s Story
Aisha lived in her car with her four children, all under the age of 18. She had a full-time job, but a...
Linda’s Story
Linda lived in her car with her 12-year-old daughter. Getting her ready for school...
Carla’s Story
Carla was living in a home that no longer felt safe for her two young boys. She bravely left without...
Eugene’s Story – From Homeless to Hope
My name is Eugene, and at 61 years old, I can honestly say I’m blessed to still be here sharing my story. My life...
Solving the Puzzle
Even though he was experiencing homelessness, Tyrek showed up to Samaritan Resource Center ready. He arrived with a new job and...
Commentary: We can’t solve homelessness by moving it out of sight
Samaritan Resource Center’s Executive Director, Zeynep Portway, penned an op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel making the case for why displacing or defunding SRC would make homelessness worse, not better. Portway emphasizes that SRC's neighbors are not outsiders drawn in from elsewhere, rather, they are East Orlando residents who have been priced out of
A Season of Loss. A Story of Restoration.
In March 2025, a car accident changed everything for one of our neighbors. He lost his CDL, his job, and soon after, his home...
From the Woods to a Home
At 68 years old, Samantha deserved a home. For over a year, she lived in the woods. The pandemic had taken her job. Housing displacement took the rest...
Orange County considers new homeless services center
Spectrum News spotlighted Samaritan Resource Center’s daily work at the heart of its coverage of Orange County's proposed Goldenrod Village Housing Navigation Center, a planned $27 million, 150-bed facility near Goldenrod Road and East Colonial Drive. Alongside the county's announcement, Executive Director Zeynep Portway spoke to the depth of need SRC sees firsthand,
East Orange County residents get 1st look at 150-bed ‘Goldenrod Village’ shelter plan
Orange County officials unveiled "Goldenrod Village," a proposed 150-bed housing navigation center near Goldenrod Road and East Colonial Drive, at a public meeting Monday evening. The $27 million facility would offer wraparound services including meals, employment assistance, mental health care, and case management, with the goal of transitioning residents out of homelessness
