Imagine being one life event away from experiencing homelessness.
The loss of a job. A sudden medical bill. Or another unexpected challenge.
For a growing number of individuals in Central Florida, homelessness isn’t something they have to work to imagine. It’s their current reality. One of those individuals was Tabbatha, a mother of two. After losing her job, she and her family were evicted from their apartment and ended up sleeping in her car.
“We couldn’t keep sleeping in our car,” Tabbatha said. “So, we worked with a social worker and the school counselor to find a place we could go. They directed us to Rescue Outreach Mission.”
Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida, one of 10 grantees in VyStar Foundation’s 2023 cycle focused on helping youth, is Seminole County's only emergency homeless shelter. The organization prioritizes families within a 20-mile radius. Since 1994, their work has provided a lifeline for those in need.
“One of the most common reasons people in our area experience homelessness is because they are just one event away from losing everything,” said Chris Ham, executive director of Rescue Outreach Mission. “When an individual is working just to keep the bills paid, losing that job or an unexpected car repair or medical bill, can push families and individuals to start living in cars or in hotel rooms.”
Changing Lives Through Housing, Healing and Hope
In 2023, Rescue Outreach Mission's Youth Emergency Shelter Program received a youth grant from VyStar Foundation. This funding was allocated to operating and programmatic expenditures, providing essential resources, food, counseling and community outreach services in a supportive and welcoming environment. The remaining funds were dedicated to youth shelter building costs and case management.
Rescue Outreach Mission plays a crucial role in assisting numerous individuals. Staff use their case management system to connect employed individuals and their children with housing providers that have fewer entry barriers, helping to improve their lives. Until they find permanent housing, guests can stay at the shelter. This gives them an opportunity to save money, which is important in overcoming future challenges.
This approach helped Tabbatha and her family. While at the shelter, she worked as a supervisor at a local department store, saving as much money as possible.
In addition to the tangible benefits, Rescue Outreach Mission gives their guests hope — something that can be hard to find while experiencing homelessness.
“You have to have a lot of hope,” Tabbatha said. “There were times that I started to lose hope, days where I thought that I was never going to find a bed again. But you have to stay positive that you will get through this.”
Tabatha and her family arrived at Rescue Outreach Mission in November 2024. By the end March 2025, they had successfully moved into a new apartment. With stable housing, her children were able to focus on school and end the academic year on a positive note.
Without the support of Rescue Outreach Mission, they might still be experiencing homelessness.
Where Compassion Meets Action
Tabbatha and her family are far from the only ones who have found themselves in need of help.
Florida ranks third in the nation in total number of individuals experiencing homelessness, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In Central Florida, the rate grew by 105% since the last count in 2023. That means that on any given night, at least 420 individuals are likely to be experiencing homelessness.
As a direct result of the grant from VyStar Foundation, Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida helped 248 individuals transition into permanent housing in 2024, and since January 2025, they have assisted over 83 individuals. Funding has been crucial in enabling the organization to make a significant impact on the Central Florida community.
“Thanks to VyStar Foundation and their generosity, families like Tabbatha’s are thriving in their new home,” Ham said.
Together, we can provide hope and a brighter future for those experiencing homelessness. Visit Rescue Outreach Mission to learn more and get involved.