In Compliance with Florida HB 1365
The Source is planning to launch our newest Dignity Bus, which will be the third for Indian River County, but the fifth in our fleet; the other two reside in Rhode Island and Illinois with area non-profit organizations operating them.
Our official Dignity Bus launch will be celebrated at a special event to be held on Wednesday, August 28 at 11 a.m. at the Women’s Club located at 1534 21st Street in historic downtown Vero Beach. The event will feature a short program, a tour of the bus and light refreshments.
We hope you will join us and other local officials as we proudly introduce our newest temporary shelter for the homeless to our community.
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Anthony Zorbaugh, Executive Director of The Source, on behalf of The Source’s Board of Directors, is proud to announce a very exciting expansion to their Dignity Bus initiative.
Since 2022, two Dignity Buses have operated in Indian River County as a temporary shelter for the homeless population. Between the two vehicles, 36 people have had the opportunity to sleep off the streets, with a roof over their heads, in a safe and secure location every night of the week, all year round.
“We have now been able to secure a third bus to benefit this community and the state as a whole as we continue moving forward in helping to serve the homeless population in a positive manner,” explains Zorbaugh.
While all three buses are very similar on the interior layout, they each have some differences that set them apart: Bus #1 sleeps 20 individuals; Bus #2 is slightly smaller and sleeps 16, while the newest bus has 19 sleeping pods (beds). The bathroom in the new bus has been enlarged to provide a larger hand washing sink, one bedding section offers a triple bunk bed rather than the standard double bunks throughout, and in the baggage area below, a full washer and dryer has been installed. The exterior is also very different and very striking. The other two out-of-state buses also differ with heating elements for the cold weather and one has handicapped access from the rear of the bus and is equipped with one handicapped sleeping pod.
“The timing of this new bus launch is important for a few reasons,” Zorbaugh shares. “This vehicle is, in part, due to a generous donation made by an area resident who lost her husband and son, years apart, but on the same day, August 28. Donor Cheryl Robinson sees this addition to our temporary shelter solution as a blessing from her husband and son. In fact, those attending the event will see some of the meaningful ways Ms. Robinson will honor her family with the addition of some special new elements to the exterior and interior of the vehicle.”
Zorbaugh continues, “The other reason this new bus is set to be in operation at this time is to be in compliance to the new Florida HB 1365 ordinance imposed by the Florida State Senate. This ordinance, titled “Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping,” prohibits counties and municipalities from authorizing or allowing public camping or sleeping on public property. Homeless individuals are prohibited from camping on city streets, sidewalks, and parks and instead placed in temporary shelters monitored by law enforcement agencies under the new law, which takes effect Oct. 1. The new bus, in addition to the other two, will now total 55 people off the street in a temporary shelter. We also have our Dignity Village with 18 one and two bedroom cottages as well as several trailers that are in offsite locations. We need to do our part…we always have and we continue to do so.”
For more information on Dignity Bus, The Source or the August 28th event, please contact Anthony Zorbaugh or Jonathan Orozco at 772-564-0202.