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Series Code: TDYL
Program Code: TDYL240008A
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00:04 >> I want to 00:17 [MUSIC] 00:26 >> too. 00:31 [MUSIC] 00:36 >> I'm 00:42 >> and 00:47 I want to stand 00:48 [MUSIC] 00:52 too. 00:54 [MUSIC] 00:59 [MUSIC] 01:06 >> I've shown that when I'm jaded plan and we welcome you 01:09 to create BN today live. We have such an exciting update 01:16 tonight. This ministry we first introduced to you in 2011 and 01:22 this it began in 2011. I think the first time he was 2016. 01:26 But we always scan it so much response we do and up, Kate, 01:33 because these people are the south to the Earth. You know, 01:38 Jesus said in Matthew Chapter 5 in verse 13, you are south of 01:44 there. 01:45 Salt is used to heal wounds. Salt is used to preserve 01:50 flavor. Sold is so important. It chases said hate 01:57 if you might disciple year the salt of the earth. But if so it 02:01 loses. Its flavor has to be season. Well, the whole point 02:06 is we never want to lose half labor and we're so excited 02:11 tonight. I mean reduced our special cans. We have Eric 02:14 coming Rio. He is the president and founder of Salt which is an 02:20 acronym for service and love together. Yeah, right. That's 02:24 what is so do. 02:25 >> This that many for so we serve the people experiencing 02:29 homelessness and holistically. They are not just basic needs 02:34 but the emotional mental. I'm Darren Juul. Most of all. 02:39 Yeah. So 02:40 that's what we do will go more in depth on that. 02:42 >> All right. All right. We're so excited. They chief 02:44 returned. And I believe this is I believe we know Camarillo and 02:52 you are a board member for salt. You actually a volunteer. 02:56 That's how the 2 of you met. But we're going to get into 02:58 that story in just a moment. We're so thankful you're here. 03:02 Thank you. Thank you for all that you do for the glory of 03:06 God. Before we begin, though, we know how much you love music 03:10 and we know how much you love. 03:12 >> The one who's going to sing this next, Heidi Identities. 03:15 Yes, we're going to be blessed by Stephanie Dawn and Stephanie 03:19 not has a beautiful voice and she's going to be saying and 03:22 the love of God and man. 03:24 [MUSIC] 03:29 [MUSIC] 03:34 [MUSIC] 03:41 >> Is going to fall this. 03:49 >> Not to 03:52 too. 03:57 >> The is still 04:05 we used to 04:08 is 04:12 [MUSIC] 04:18 >> well as to not gave. He is to be 04:29 [MUSIC] 04:33 >> I use of 04:37 done. 04:39 [MUSIC] 04:41 >> He is. 04:45 [MUSIC] 04:50 [MUSIC] 04:54 >> Home issue and send them strong. 05:02 >> It is. 05:03 [MUSIC] 05:05 >> O o. 05:06 [MUSIC] 05:10 >> Seeing Santa e G long. 05:19 >> We do. We with E. 05:23 >> We should. 05:27 >> These these. 05:32 >> Which means moving. 05:35 >> Andriese long. And who knew him? 05:43 And 05:46 >> us mom meeting. 05:51 [MUSIC] 05:56 [MUSIC] 05:58 >> Would drain the 06:03 we should. 06:06 [MUSIC] 06:09 >> So long. 06:12 >> Host drenched from needs to use 06:21 [MUSIC] 06:26 [MUSIC] 06:29 when you. 06:30 [MUSIC] 06:35 >> Foods and Stu. 06:40 >> Soon though, 06:42 [MUSIC] 06:47 >> was seeing said. 06:49 >> We? 06:57 [MUSIC] 07:02 [MUSIC] 07:04 >> Wow. Wow. Wow. I don't think there's a more beautiful song 07:07 that's ever been to a love of true grit. 07:10 >> Well, if you're joining us just a little late tonight, 07:13 we have an exciting update on Salt service and love together 07:18 who are 07:20 ministry to homeless people in such a unique and broad way. 07:26 It is such a beautiful ministry and we know how you love to see 07:30 the update. But there is not another ministry out there that 07:35 is meeting not just the physical but the spiritual 07:39 mental, the all of the aspects that they take a holistic 07:44 approach. You're going to see what I mean if you've never 07:47 seen him before. Eric's been here, probably 15 to 20 times 07:51 that 3ABN because people love to hear the updates from this 07:55 ministry. So, Eric, we just want you to an enemy introduce 08:00 again. We have Eric Camarillo who is the president and 08:04 founder of Salt and in his beautiful wife, I believe Bueno 08:09 Committee and we're going to call you mail, Yahoo. So tell 08:15 us 08:16 the wind got Persky few the fusion for this. 08:20 I know you spent an all-night prayer meeting with your France 08:24 toast to pass it. 08:25 >> Yeah, yeah. So we know we were we we got inspired the 08:29 idea that the vision for ministry like this and I was 08:33 maybe a year after coming to Christ. And, 08:38 you know, we we mean to friends of ours that we just got into 08:41 his room and we literally spent all night praying line we we we 08:45 knew salt was what we wanted to call the ministry saw 08:49 exemplifies what we wanted this ministry to represent. 08:53 And but we want we want we knew that an acronym would make it 08:57 extra special that the secret recipe, you know, of the 09:02 the name. So we prayed all night. We had different 09:05 acronyms that got inspired. And and ultimately we we texted 09:09 almost like a poll Tata Group of people he knew were 09:12 connected to God. We said, you know, can you vote on on this 09:16 where prayerfully considering an acronym for this for SALT 09:19 and service love together got the overwhelming majority of 09:23 people that wanted to, you know that that where voting and we 09:27 want with it service love together. It's it's it means so 09:31 much and so simple, but it means so much. You know, 09:33 we're not just serving. There's so many people that serve but 09:36 are missing that loving green and right. And you know that 09:40 true relational, yes, shun. Yes, exactly. And then there's 09:45 so many people that might say like, oh, yeah, we love our 09:47 community, but they're not serving. You don't see the 09:50 action, right? So seen those 2 things together is really how 09:55 we believe Christ with the ministry, you know, and that's 09:58 kind of 09:59 >> him and how it went. Yeah, we're going to come back to get 10:02 a little bit more of Eric's testimony. But first, I just 10:06 melt. We want to hear your story. County 2 grew up in a 10:10 Christian home. 10:12 >> So, yes, I did grow up in a Christian home. My father was a 10:17 Cuban man and my mother is Puerto Rican and both of their 10:21 families come from a long generation of UM's as the A's. 10:26 So yeah, it is Chris. Yes, haha. So, yeah. So I didn't 10:32 grow up in this church and as time went on, you know, they're 10:39 there did come a point where I kind of 10:42 battled on, you know, is this the truth? And I believe in 10:45 this because of my parents are, is this is this that you, 10:48 you know, once I did start kind of searching out just on 10:52 exploring through different religions, got wonderful church 10:55 is now. Yeah. And one day 11:00 I was I was reading something that was from a different 11:03 denomination and it was like I could hear God's voice saying 11:09 why are you searching for something else when you have 11:11 the truth right now? And I just stopped right there. And I put 11:16 away would have had and I just started crying and praying and 11:19 saying, OK, lord, you know, and from then on, you know, it's 11:23 just continue to be just this journey and I'm growing and 11:27 Christ's love. And I started volunteering with salt. When I 11:31 moved to Orlando, I'm somewhat Orlando and mid 2015 and I was 11:36 searching for a minute shows praying and I was saying Lord 11:39 Guide me into a menace. She way can serve you and where you can 11:43 meet godly people 11:45 because I knew once you move to somewhere new, you want to make 11:48 sure you have good influence. And so I prayed. And and a 11:53 friend of mine ended up telling me, hey, there's this ministry 11:56 called Salt in Orlando when I check them out. And so I 12:00 started volunteering in 2016 and that's when Eric and I'm 12:05 and we became friends continued, you know, working in 12:09 the minute she together and eventually got married and 12:13 Twenty-twenty good base to give us the Reader's Digest version 12:16 of your marriage. They got married in the middle of COVID 12:20 just everything when you're planning to speak waiting and 12:23 everything is shut down. Yes. So we were in the middle 12:26 of planning everything. And we found out, you know, that the 12:31 pandemic was happening. And so the pastor who was going to 12:36 marry us, he calls me and he says, do you guys want to get 12:39 married tomorrow? And we're both like, yes, the you know, 12:44 good. It would do it, you know. And so I'm thankful for his 12:48 help and some friends, we all got together and within 24 12:53 hours planned any wedding. And and it just came out 12:57 beautiful. You know, I was a drive-in wedding where some of 13:00 our family members just pulled an and, you know, we have some 13:03 friends. They're just driving in. And it was beautiful. 13:07 You know, we were really thankful that God worked it out 13:09 that way. 13:10 >> He brought he brought so much together in a short time. 13:13 Yeah, yeah. I remember you got the arch from like somebody 13:17 would. Yeah for an arch for like Box or something. And then 13:21 the runway and the catering came. 13:24 >> I don't know where. Yeah, I like this is a Fatah. He did 13:29 their cars or what so is actually it's an added Venice 13:34 run a restaurant. And so the pastor kind of connected with 13:38 them to get to make us a wedding cake and catering. 13:41 It was so sweet. I mean, just the way everyone come together. 13:44 So those beautiful, what we want to do right now. 13:48 >> To introduce salt to those of you who are not familiar 13:52 with the story. We've got a short video that will give you 13:57 a little of the flavor of soapy flight and not the act. 14:02 [MUSIC] 14:06 >> Homelessness is central. Florida is just 14:09 getting so much worse. 14:12 >> Shelters are at capacity. Rant is at all-time highs. 14:16 Every $100 increase in median rent equals a 9% increase in 14:21 homelessness. And there's been a $550 increase in median rent 14:25 in past years. 14:27 That means a 50% increase in homelessness or starting to see 14:30 that now, especially among youth and young adults and 14:33 seniors, you know, people, 55 plus, art are becoming 14:38 homeless. And, you know, I think a lot of the time to look 14:41 at the people that are on the street and they think they've 14:45 been there forever. But over the past 4 years about 75% of 14:50 people experiencing homelessness have been 14:52 experiencing for the first time. 14:54 [MUSIC] 14:59 The story assault is a story. God using average people that 15:05 have leaned on their face and wanted to make a difference in 15:09 the community among people experiencing homelessness. 15:14 Before I became a Christian, I had experience homelessness 15:16 myself. I was 20 years old 15:19 and not having access to things like a place to wash clothes, 15:22 not having access to a case manager to help me understand 15:26 was services were available to me and what I qualify for and 15:30 to help me navigate the system. And it was really difficult. 15:33 And I think as I became a Christian and started to think 15:36 about how can I take this energy that was putting into 15:40 the world before into something that 15:43 God can use. 15:44 [MUSIC] 15:46 >> So we're doing practice and will serve about 15:50 8 to 16 at the time 15:53 started growing. 15:54 >> Together we got with some friends. We came up with some 15:57 names, took a poll and salt. I was the name that came out 16:01 from Matthew 5.13, that we have the salt of the earth. So, 16:04 you know, like this was pretty much the OG group doesn't hold 16:08 1013. 16:10 So I mean, it was positive for ministries and outreach is that 16:14 Eric and a few others kind of brought together. 16:17 >> So it went from 16 to 20 to 15, 200. 16:24 >> We didn't we didn't have enough benches to fit about 16:27 people coming. 16:28 >> I didn't realize how I felt. I felt by something so simple. 16:32 We were cooking out restaurants. We would have 16:34 hotel, send us food. Have people bring food, have 16:37 churches, other organizations donate food. I kind of joke 16:41 that making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich kind of changed 16:44 my life 16:45 sorts. And we were, sir, I think close to 200 on Saturday 16:50 mornings. 16:52 >> And as we continue to share food, we didn't want to just 16:55 stop and food. 16:58 And so we we start to provide clothing, hygiene products, 17:02 which ended up leading to its fundraising for clothing 17:04 trailer. We called our Change. Trailer 17:08 started growing. 17:10 We didn't know at the time, but that trailer helped inspire 17:14 kind of our model moving forward and how we deliver our 17:18 services. 17:19 I really just meeting people where they are. 17:21 [MUSIC] 17:24 >> And then the next big milestone was a shower trailer. 17:27 >> We found out that over half of the people we were we're 17:30 serving. We're actively looking for work. But those same people 17:33 hadn't showered in 3 to 7 days. On average. There were some 17:36 people going on job interviews. The hadn't showered in 3 17:38 months. So we're like, OK, there isn't enough shower 17:42 capacity in this community. There needs to be something to 17:44 provide showers. And that's we fundraise about $40,000 for a 17:48 shower trailer. 17:49 And now we're providing food. We start to bring in help 17:52 barbers, hair cuts were doing showers and we do in clothing 17:57 and hygiene products. 17:58 >> We have a Colin trailer which is given how close, 18:00 given how close given our clothes 18:02 out of sight. This is this is kind of wasteful. 18:05 Well, let's find a solution for that. And that's where the 18:07 launch trailer came in. 18:09 [MUSIC] 18:13 >> And we start to add other services like mail services. 18:15 We had limited storage services, 18:19 charging stations for the unsheltered, 18:21 [MUSIC] 18:24 but there needed to be a comprehensive drop-in center in 18:27 downtown Orlando. Then there needs to be a a a front door 18:30 for people experiencing homelessness, a place where 18:33 someone can calm and say, I want my homelessness to an end 18:36 and a case manager can guide them through that process from 18:39 beginning to end. 18:40 >> Well, it's really start 18:42 attacking the roots of of of the homeless issue. And let's 18:46 really try to help a lot on another level. 18:49 >> Now that case management program went on that year to 18:52 help one out of 5 people, transition, shelter, housing 18:56 and 3 out of 4 take the next step toward ending their 18:59 homelessness. 19:01 And since then, they're on track to helping directly and 19:03 homelessness for either one family or person a week and 19:07 divert people away from the system because there are 19:10 systems already for teens, 19:13 the path. But I have seen the future 19:16 and you can make 19:18 [MUSIC] 19:23 homelessness in central Florida is just getting so much worse. 19:30 We are trying to do. We can to meet the need to keep up with a 19:34 need. But it's just it's it's becoming overwhelming. It's a 19:37 lot of our community is just not not able to handle the 19:43 influx that we're seeing right now. 19:46 It's not people that are there just all the time, you know, 19:48 and we're seeing a lot more first timers and so has got a 19:54 chance to write the story where we're hoping that more people 19:58 come together. And I want to be a part of the story with us 20:02 together. We're so thankful that in January of 2024, 20:06 we were awarded a grant to work with homeless youth. That's for 20:10 unaccompanied minors from age 6 to 17 and young adults from 18 20:14 to 24. 20:16 >> We just got both of our trailers delivered yesterday. 20:19 This big trailer here is going to be dedicated to youth. 20:22 Young adults experiencing homelessness. 20:23 >> We're going to be providing the case management support. 20:26 Day services supports showers and laundry all that stuff. 20:29 >> And it has both laundry and showers inside the same 20:32 trailer. We're really excited. We think it's going make a big 20:35 difference here. And that's going to be 5 days a week. 20:38 So it's basically doubling the current 5 days a week here in 20:41 downtown Orlando to now an additional 5 days a week across 20:45 the central Florida area. 20:47 >> Yeah, all the time I see myself working core price of 20:51 this, I support of the office building until my wife died 20:54 until July. And all I got in the car. It's a so I had a 20:57 stroke. 20:58 >> It's it's just it's crazy because as we see this increase 21:01 in homelessness, the increase in evictions, you know, the 21:04 increase in rent prices were not seen an increase in wages, 21:07 the wages, he's pretty much been the same. It's no longer 21:11 just the homelessness crisis and it's an emergency and this 21:14 is nothing new. We're not doing anything new here. This is this 21:18 is what God has asked people to do. And we're just following 21:23 that calling and and where we're excited because so many 21:27 people have joined this, calling it with us 21:31 every day is a new page when the story that got his writing 21:35 through solved, 21:36 we all are just working together to help provide the 21:41 most vulnerable. Not only with their basic needs, the most 21:44 basic human needs, but also to help and their homelessness to 21:48 to revive that, hoping that that one day they do have to be 21:53 in it living on the street. They can be in a home. 21:56 [MUSIC] 21:59 You join us and becoming a part of that story here in Central 22:03 Florida. 22:05 [MUSIC] 22:09 [MUSIC] 22:14 [MUSIC] 22:19 >> That's a beautiful introduction. But I just have 22:22 to tell you, it is not only in central Florida. This ministry 22:27 motto is now expanding and you're going to get to hear 22:32 this, how it is available to happen in any city. So if you 22:38 have a heart, a passion for the homeless, you really want to 22:44 listen to this entire interview. Now, I have to ask a 22:47 quick question because we we failed to mention you are a 22:51 councillor for an academy, right? Yes. So will you 22:55 instrumental in putting together that counseling part 22:59 of this? 23:00 >> So he consulted a lot with me when they were beginning 23:04 that counseling wing women's solved. But I think that's kind 23:10 of yeah, he he. 23:11 >> We should. She was. You could say she was an advisor. 23:15 Starr said it to the starting of that and we had our we have 23:18 a also another person doing the mental services and less 23:23 clinical social worker on our team that she's also now since 23:26 when. 23:28 >> That that really kind of put all the parts together for the 23:31 one thing that was catching my attention as you've done an 23:33 excellent job tracking. And yeah, and that really tells the 23:38 story right there 23:40 rather than yes, we saw a bunch of people today. We made a 23:44 difference in people's lives. But if you're in for the long 23:47 haul, 23:48 when you're going getting grants and 7, etcetera, this is 23:51 what's really happening. 23:53 >> Yeah. What you did that was so unique in my estimation, 23:57 often people will feed the hungry. But would you started 24:00 your feeding program? You were doing data-gathering. Tell us. 24:04 >> How all of this to skip expanded? Yeah. So we're very 24:09 big on data. We have we actually have a data analyst on 24:13 our staff. We have reporting analysts, we have a data and 24:16 grants department in our organization. I mean, it's very 24:19 important to us because data is what drives impact that should 24:22 drive our direction, that that's what tells us for doing 24:25 good more for it. We need to improve somewhere. So it but 24:29 yeah, it started really early on with the food because we 24:33 started to surveys were gathering that data and like, 24:35 okay, what is it that you actually need? I think it's 24:38 very easy for us when you're dealing with someone 24:40 experiencing homelessness, the need to compete and less right. 24:43 And so you just kind of, you know, people just kind of get 24:46 together. They they they kind of assume and assess what 24:49 people need. And they're probably a lot of time. They're 24:52 not wrong. They're they're providing things that they 24:54 need. But when when you actually talk to them and ask 24:57 them and collect that data on what is is needed, it really 25:01 does help you pinpoint your direction. And so 25:04 we did that with, you know, while we're collecting food, 25:06 that's what drove that the clothing trailer. We did 25:09 surveys that, you know, and as you saw in the video, 3 months 25:13 without a shower and going on job interviews, that's that's a 25:16 problem. We need that we use that data to fundraise for the 25:19 shower trailer, actually 3 AB env orphaned and almost half of 25:22 that trailer. We're presenting that year. And and you know it 25:27 and we just continue to use that data. I mean, there's so 25:29 much I have so much in my head as far as the data goes. 25:32 But I might some of that might pop out throughout the show. 25:36 But but, yeah, it's a it's a big part of who we are. 25:39 >> Well, you know, there's no use getting clean clothes if 25:42 you haven't had to shout last, right. And then what I love is 25:46 that you said, OK, now that you see you're giving out so many 25:50 close, it was like being we need laundry. Yeah, but 25:56 I don't think he came out the video and have sought to Scott 25:59 to say this. I thought one of the most exciting things that 26:03 use and I mean, this is little, but it shows have detail. 26:07 They are is that you actually have a trailer. It just just 26:11 imagine it all that you own in the world is in a basket or, 26:17 you know, ID cards from a grocery baggers. Yeah. But if 26:22 you have to go for an interview, who's going to watch 26:25 your stuff? 26:27 And so you have a trailer that they can lock threw thing to 26:31 see and and go for the new for, you know, itself safe. And now 26:35 you've got the male trailer cause. Most of them could get 26:38 mail. It's just precious. So tell us some of the other 26:42 services. So you've got it. We we saw there. But let's 26:45 talk. Yeah, that's meeting their physical needs now. 26:50 Tell us about the mental spiritual, etcetera. 26:53 >> Yeah. So so all of those services like like we're Thomas 26:56 showers, male storage laundry. All of that is essentially a 27:02 gateway. You know, we meet those basic needs. We develop 27:05 trust and relationship to the services. And and then after 27:09 that, the goal is to link them with our case management team, 27:12 because our case management team can then go. And and what 27:16 they do is they do a full assessment to figure all the 27:19 needs of the person than they help them prioritize. Those 27:22 needs by turning them into next steps. So okay, John Smith, 27:25 your next step is to get an idea. Let's katyn organization 27:29 to get your I D we set up a follow-up appointment to hold 27:32 them accountable to that referral. They come back and 27:34 you get your ID great. Let's go on to the next step, OK to this 27:37 organization. 27:39 However, if there's an organization that cannot help 27:41 them or can't meet that need, we step in to fill the gap. 27:44 So we're always there helping them to take these next steps. 27:47 Then that's our case management team. It's almost like a guy 27:50 like a like a life coach, like, like out councillor in a sense, 27:54 you know. And then we have our mental health counselor, 27:57 the helps meet the the mental health needs of our gas. 28:02 You know, guess that struggle, maybe with addiction or there's 28:06 so much trauma someone goes through before they experience 28:09 homelessness. And after that experience, homelessness is 28:12 even more trauma. And so being able to process through that 28:16 trauma is really going to help people continue to take those 28:19 steps. Writes, our mental health counselor kind of 28:22 supports our case management team in that way. And then you 28:25 have are spiritual care team, right? Our spiritual care team. 28:28 They do group 5 studies 4 days a week, one-on-one studies, 28:31 church services for gas. You'll see them just outside 28:34 talking to people getting to hear their story. They they 28:38 knowing their first name knowing their first names, 28:41 you know, going out to lunch, going out to dinner with 28:43 people, inviting people to their home, even I mean, 28:45 they even go last year. They did to weddings for guests that 28:49 we're experiencing homelessness, but more than the 28:50 housing they called them up like, Hey, can you do our 28:53 wedding? And they did to weddings. Last year. I wonder 28:55 Fayed memorial services for gets the pass away and help our 28:59 other guest kind of process that they do house blessings 29:02 for guests to move into housing. And whenever guests go 29:05 to prison or to the hospital, though, going actually go visit 29:08 them and check up on them, see how they're doing. They 29:11 literally are, you know, our our paid staff to be that the 29:16 physical example of what I believe. I mean, we know Christ 29:20 would be doing if he was here right now on this earth, 29:23 along with our other team, you know, working together. But 29:26 it's it's been it's been really cool. And they they also focus 29:30 on housing retention. So they'll visit our guest that 29:33 moving the housing. They'll continue to visit them to see 29:35 if they have any other needs so that we can make sure that can 29:38 rates retain that housing that they got. So. 29:42 >> So it's truly holistic. Yes, and the bottom line is for 29:46 us, which is probably fairly unusual because most people, 29:50 they 29:51 the hit a wall someplace in there and do that. They don't 29:55 take care of business and find out what we can do beyond that. 29:59 >> I cannot imagine why I releasing a documentary where 30:04 out 30:06 journalist went out on the streets to to ride a little 30:10 article about it and he spent 48 hours of the street and 30:15 watching what he went through in the shock. You know, we have 30:18 no idea and we're seeing more seniors, but we're also seeing 30:22 more youth and we'll get to it and second, but tell us about 30:26 your new trade group that launched in January of 20 for? 30:29 Yeah, yeah. So and one thing I failed to mention earlier was 30:34 one of the one of the key things that are our pastors to 30:38 as a developing these relationships with people. 30:40 >> They do an appeal for baptism once a year. So last 30:44 year they were able to baptize 10 people, 10 for a board, 30:47 you know, give their life to Christ in baptism. And they 30:50 and, you know, the result to end their homelessness just 30:52 gets so much higher. You know, they increase their case 30:54 management appointments. They want to access more 30:57 services. I mean, you could really see God, you know, 31:00 working through them. And 31:03 but I I want to make sure I mention that. 31:06 But yes, so when it comes to the trailer January 2024, 31:11 we actually have a picture of that ribbon cutting. We did. 31:13 It was a small ribbon cutting on. But we had a real estate 31:16 company that said, you know what, we want to contribute to 31:19 this mission. We want to be a part of it. They they actually 31:21 purchase that trailer behind them right there. Wow. It's a 3 31:25 bathroom trailer. And one thing we added to this trailer, 31:28 2 things actually that were really key. We have an 80 a 31:31 bathroom. So now those mobility challenges, there's a 31:35 wheelchair lift. If people are in wheelchairs, about a 3rd of 31:38 the people are case managers see have mobility challenges. 31:41 So having a 88 a bathroom is really key. And then in the 31:45 back, there's actually a compartment that flips open. 31:50 We have 3 sinks that are accessible from the back. 31:53 So we think, you know, as people shave brush their teeth, 31:55 they don't you take up a bathroom, we can that can come 31:58 out free up that bout. We get some way to a quick, clever. 32:02 And so that was that was in jail 2024. And then we and that 32:08 the interesting thing about it and how God works is, 32:12 you know, as you increase your capacity, right, God just has 32:15 more room to to fill with with things he has you to do and and 32:21 blessings and all that. But in this case, right after that 32:25 ribbon, cutting those a shelter that reached out to us, they 32:27 said, hey, our bathrooms are down. We need a wee while the 32:31 women and children to not have access to a bathroom or showers 32:34 right now. Do you have a trailer that's available? 32:37 Literally after that ribbon cutting, we took that trailer 32:40 to go serve the women and children at that shot or snow 32:42 showers and bathrooms. And then we had the other ribbon cutting 32:47 that happened in February 2024. To and that's why they tell us 32:52 about the youth because this is something you said ages 16 to 32:56 24. You're seeing a high increase. Yes, ages 16 to 33:00 actually youth and young adult homelessness. 33:03 The highest concentration of youth and adult homelessness is 33:07 central. Florida's noted as one of those places with the 33:10 highest concentration and so the agents of 16 to 2016 to 24. 33:15 Yeah. What what is behind it? What is so, you know, trick or 33:21 a lot of it. We see a lot of people that were in foster care 33:25 when they turn 18. They don't have anywhere to go bomb people 33:30 that identify as LGBTQ+ the and up they family no longer wants 33:36 to care for them. They end up on the street. Even we have 16, 33:40 17 year-olds that are on the street looking first resources 33:43 by themselves. Sometimes it's it's really crazy. 33:47 So and then you have people were just the stuff. Family 33:50 just doesn't 33:51 doesn't really care about them too much. You know, and there's 33:54 cases where, you know, people might run away and stuff like 33:57 that. But a lot of the time it has to do with just not having 34:01 anyone in their life 34:03 that really cares and loves them and can support them, 34:07 you know, through challenges they might go through. 34:10 So that's yeah, it's sad. You know, we see a lot of that. 34:13 >> And a lot of them probably don't have any background, 34:17 spiritually background. Yeah, by 4. 34:20 >> The beloved dropped out of school and it just goes now. 34:23 Yeah. And no one thing that you haven't mentioned yet, which 34:27 which is part of it. How do you transport this? You've got to 34:30 have some type of a one-time pick, a person. Yeah, that we 34:34 get that question a lot. 34:36 >> So if we have to 50, you know, heavy duty Dooley. 34:41 Yeah, I'm you know, a duly truck that that will pull all 34:44 the trailers that we have. We we don't have to go into 34:46 solely to the 3.50 but to 50 with a duly. That's that's that 34:51 pretty much works out for us. Yeah, things. But they do get 34:54 heavy. They have to have the that the actually the youth 34:57 young adults trailer that we lost a February 2024. Is I 35:01 think a couple pictures of that. Yeah. Well, actually, 35:03 there's there's a video to week introducing the trailer a 35:07 little bit and the program, so will maybe go ahead and play 35:10 that and go to escape. 35:13 >> Well, a nonprofit called Salt Outreach is rolling out 35:17 new mobile showers for homeless. You sit is a part of 35:20 an 8.4 million dollar effort run by the Homeless Services 35:24 network of Central Florida. Simply Healthcare plans donated 35:28 $150,000 to cover the costs of the trailer and truck. We spoke 35:33 to a mental health expert who will be part of the efforts to 35:36 help young adults experiencing homelessness. 35:40 >> Early in my life, I felt like an outcast have done 35:42 prison ministry in the past 35:44 and I love helping people that society tends look the other 35:48 way. 35:49 >> Spectrum News Thirteen's Maria Serrano is joining us now 35:52 live in Sanford. Maria, it's the first time they were 35:55 actually able to get a closer look at these new mobile 35:58 showers. This will be in addition to the fleet that Salt 36:01 outreach already has. 36:04 >> That's right. And this trailer right here, it has 3 36:08 bathrooms with showers, a dryer and a washer in all. This is 36:12 specifically targeted to help youth experiencing 36:15 homelessness. 36:17 >> Being able to 36:20 I'm live on the streets. 36:22 He's been a very 36:25 influential experience in my life. 36:28 >> 24 year-old Charles de Guzman has been without a home 36:31 on and off for 4 years. Salt. 36:34 >> Provide some very much needed stability. 36:37 >> What he grew up in Seminole County but was born in the 36:40 Philippines. He's working to find a job now. 36:43 >> A few of us want to stand this. 36:45 [MUSIC] 36:47 The trap of homelessness. 36:51 >> This new mobile shower trailer will target youth and 36:54 young adults like Charles washing their clothes and help 36:57 tend to their 9 to 10. It's Dennis Ortiz. 37:00 >> In charge of driving this trailer, he pulls salt trailers 37:04 like this 2 outposts in Orlando, Sanford, Tampa and 37:08 Daytona. 37:09 >> This is rewarding to be able to help somebody with whether 37:12 it's that shower or given them a pair of shoes. 37:15 >> He remembers telling a shower trailer to Tampa helping 37:18 individual who had showered for a year and a half. 37:22 >> That's a real reality check how we just take a drop of 37:25 water for granted. 37:29 >> Eric Comrie spent 6 months of his life living out of his 37:32 car, though he has been clear memories of having to go to gas 37:36 stations to clean up getting others access to what once was 37:40 a need for him. 37:41 >> It has been fulfilling. I experience homelessness when 37:44 I was 20 years old as a young that all. So I know how it how 37:48 intimidating the to be in the space where there's. 37:51 >> So many other different people and demographics. 37:54 He says this trailer is dedicated to young adult 37:57 experiencing homelessness like Charles. 38:00 >> So right now in downtown Orlando are serving over 100 38:02 people a day, 5 days a week with our current equipment. 38:05 We have a dedicated longer trailer there. This 55 loads of 38:08 laundry. We have a dedicated shower trailer. They're doing, 38:11 you know, upwards of 80 showers a day. 38:14 >> Having a dedicated space for them will be key for them to 38:17 come out of fight or flight mode and and youth and adult 38:21 homelessness. I cannot do 38:25 the things that I do. 38:27 [MUSIC] 38:31 Those sorts of 38:33 accommodations. 38:35 [MUSIC] 38:37 >> The shower trailer will be available 5 days a week at a 38:40 designated drop-in center, specifically again, targeting 38:43 youth experiencing homelessness. I am live tonight 38:46 in Sanford, Maria Serrano Spectrum News. 38:51 >> So let me ask this. So 38:53 the way this is present is that it goes to different locations. 38:57 So it may be at the corner of central and 3rd one week and 39:02 then the next week, it may be a different location. 39:04 >> Yes, all right. Is that? Yeah, our operation is totally 39:08 mobile. We can set up. I mean, that meant South housing saw 39:11 the beginning of that video. We have a mental health 39:13 counseling trailer that's actually getting built right 39:15 now. Some mobile mental health counseling off. That's for the 39:18 youth for the youth and the dog. Yeah, wonder from it's a 39:20 huge need, especially the youth today. I know, you know, 39:23 my wife's a mental health counselor and she she deals 39:25 with youth a lot. 39:28 And, you know, I think this generation, I mean, just having 39:31 more and more challenges when it comes to mental health and 39:35 anxiety depression, you know, things like that. It seems like 39:38 COVID triggered a lot of that now. 39:40 >> Yes, it definitely seems like after the pandemic, 39:43 there's just been an increase and a lot of these mental 39:47 health challenges that the at children, youth, young adults 39:50 are experiencing. And, you know, you can see it in the 39:53 statistics is just escalated tremendously. So teen suicide 39:59 is just amazing. Yes, yes, so it's wonderful that saw is able 40:03 to provide, you know, this huge need to be able to kind of me 40:07 also that those mental health needs it. 40:10 >> And I just want to say this before for kit is that what's 40:14 always amazes me about your program is the amount of local 40:19 news coverage because people are saying this and just go on. 40:24 >> This is unbelievable. I've never seen anything like 40:27 this. So do they have a phone number that they call to find 40:30 out for the first we're going to be located? Yeah, that work 40:34 so. 40:35 >> So, yeah, there are different locations that we 40:37 operate. And we kind of just determine based on where maybe 40:42 youth and adults might congregate morning leaving your 40:45 college or near certain certain locations of other 40:48 organizations that serve youth and adult homelessness. We 40:51 might set up there. And, yeah, I mean, I think with the news 40:54 media there, there is, I mean, at least 3 or 4 times a year, 40:59 the news will reach our have the reporters. I just have 41:01 their number, though, just I actually had a report coming 41:04 today. I'm asking if if he could hit, you know, talk more 41:07 about the program, but what we actually have some media out at 41:11 a ribbon cutting for this trailer. We have some pictures, 41:15 actually, of that of that ribbon cutting 41:17 that we have that that's a that was at the ribbon cutting. 41:21 We do a ceremony where we break in the trailers by being the 41:25 first people to shower in the trailer. So will actually, 41:28 you know, have a whole program will be one of the first 41:30 showers and we get some of our partners to be some of the 41:34 first showers in the trailer. And while that's why we're in 41:37 the trailer, showering will do like some trivia soaps, all 41:40 trivia and do some activities. We should have the community 41:43 out there and all that. But but, you know, it's it's it was 41:47 an amazing timing out to to to launch that trailer actually 41:51 right after we launched it. So 41:53 I mentioned that that shelter that had the bathrooms down for 41:56 the women and children. So right after this ribbon cut 42:00 him, there was so the day before this ribbon cutting, 42:04 that was a fire at a shelter nearby over 200 people, man at 42:10 the men shelter where we're again experiencing homelessness 42:14 because of this fire. Many a majority of them working 42:17 working. And they're not only working jobs, but, you know, 42:20 working toward getting to housing, you know. And so this 42:23 kind of put a whole ranch in that for them. So what they 42:26 ended up doing was the city found a church jam and got at 42:31 least 150 of the man in this jam. But the only way that the 42:36 church would allow it is if there were extra bathroom and 42:39 shower facilities because their facility can have a list of the 42:42 city call us up and they're like, hey, 42:44 we need you guys because, you know, and it was at 01:00PM, 42:46 the units there by 03:00PM. So so we we ended up just 42:51 taking our trailer right after the ribbon cutting right over 42:53 to this church a lot. And it may very well have God's always 42:57 one step. Yeah, right here. You know, here already knew. 43:00 And they, you know, God just kind of work that receive in 43:02 the days we lost these trailers. You know, it's yeah, 43:05 it's the spirit lead there. But but yeah, so so that we 43:10 actually have a video of what that shelter look like. That 43:12 temporary shelter after the fire and kuz shares a little 43:15 bit of that story. I 43:17 [MUSIC] 43:22 [MUSIC] 43:27 [MUSIC] 44:01 >> so you are a 501, C 3 ministry, which means they are 44:05 a nonprofit organization. You are Sporting Ministry, 44:09 the Adventist Church. You have 44:13 pastors and counselors tell us about the spiritual impact 44:19 they're having on the homeless community. 44:21 >> Yes, so the man, the pastors, you know, the reason 44:24 why we've been brought on pastors to this ministry and 44:27 and you know it, we wanted to make sure that the spiritual 44:30 after encompassed everything we did. And so they they literally 44:37 are full-time, just creating those relationships sharing 44:39 Christ with people. And, you know, we we have noticed, 44:45 I mean, they're just things ample of one pay. A lot of the 44:47 people we end up getting into housing. They start with our 44:50 spiritual care team, our 2 pastors. And so just one story 44:53 of a of one of our gas. And it was Richie. He came to us in 44:58 the middle of 2022, he was experiencing homelessness for 45:01 about 2 years since about like a little after the pandemic 45:04 started 45:05 and didn't have family and really cared about. And, 45:07 you know, but he he ended up hearing about Saudi came to our 45:10 property for services. 45:12 He got showers. You know, we've got some laundry, Don. He 45:15 started to sign the for mail service and handed up going to 45:18 our group. I will study the afternoon 45:21 and kept coming. He just kept coming and coming in. And 45:25 eventually he heat set, you know, South won the pastors 45:28 after we have some more questions, you know, and he's 45:31 like, actually, I remember him asking this question. One of 45:34 our pastors feels like so, you know, on the Sabbath, you know, 45:38 I just grabbed my Bible. I just sat by a tree. And I 45:40 just read and I'm studying there. Is that appropriate 45:43 thing to do on the side of her? Like, yeah, for sure, you know. 45:46 But but man, I'm guy was really late in his life and he ended 45:51 up starting to see a case manager. They got on the job 45:54 young adult. You know, young guy got a job started working 45:58 and he ended up moving into his new place 6 months after we 46:01 first met and then about a about a month and or so later. 46:07 Well, in between that time, our pastors state what, you know, 46:10 the housing retention also a big priority of them. They're 46:13 the visiting realize he was at French. All has an air 46:16 mattress, right? So they go and they appeal churches to get 46:19 donated furniture. They got a whole truckload of furniture 46:23 for him and they drive it over. And then, you know, probably 46:27 like about a month after his and housing, he Texans like you 46:30 won't believe it got permanent. My job, I got to be more of my 46:33 team. And then he now becomes a volunteer. It used to meet with 46:38 our pastors. But it's it's it's really like those kind of 46:41 moments, you know, are spiritual care team, a lot of 46:44 our guests to have some type of spiritual background. Many of 46:48 them, I would say over 3 fourths of our guests have to 46:50 have grown up with some kind of spiritual background. And it's 46:54 very difficult to process what they're going through through 46:57 spiritual lens. It's how do how do I you get those questions 47:01 got y y in my experience in that. And you know, why is this 47:04 happening to me? Why, you know, and so being able to they once 47:08 had a guy and they're just coming online right now. 47:11 But I remember one of our pastors had cast a cop came to 47:15 us for the first time super emotional. 47:19 I lost my brothers. I lost my parents. I lost my girlfriend. 47:23 I mean, it was like literally a job story. 47:27 And and our pastor, you know, he didn't you can't really say 47:31 anything without, you know, he just the crime literally cried 47:34 with them because he also just lost the small. And they just, 47:37 you know, they just cried together. But 47:39 you know that that 47:41 that's that's what's needed in these ministries, you know, 47:43 relationship is so keen on helping to end homelessness. 47:46 And so that's their emphasis, you know, and I'm sure a lot of 47:50 them have. 47:51 >> Many levels of grief that there have experience but 47:55 homelessness itself. 47:57 >> The screen on what I would imagine that their self esteem 48:00 is gone south with probably the loss or self esteem. Yeah, 48:03 I don't know. They have any value. Yeah. Yeah. I mean from 48:07 a spiritual aspect. Yes, you do? Yeah. I'm with God. Yeah. 48:10 >> Tell us. Tell us Johnny Story because we've got the 48:14 youth but you've also got a note to clients. Yeah. Yeah. 48:17 So Johnny, we have a picture of him. Actually. He he gave us 48:21 permission, shows picture. He was like. I want everyone to 48:23 know that if it wasn't for saw, I wouldn't be walking, you 48:26 know, and hate the he had. He actually asked us to take a 48:29 picture of him have is this is this picture. You know, he came 48:34 to us, you know, single father, his to 2 young boys and he was 48:40 experiencing homelessness. You know, he he had just lost 48:43 his leg and a 48:44 he didn't know what to do. You know, you can't it's hard 48:47 to find a job when you I mean, you're trying to adjust to that 48:50 and not being able to walk anymore. You're in a 48:52 wheelchair. And he didn't have a perceived this right, you 48:56 know. And and so though there was nothing there, no 48:59 prosthetic or anything like that. And so are, you know, 49:02 he start to come to us for for for services those basic 49:05 services. At first, we develop that relationship with him, 49:09 our spiritual care team. You know, his kids are his 49:11 children on the street with yes, wow, they were. Yes. 49:15 And we see that unfortunately, every week we see a new set of 49:18 kids on the street. It soon release that. And we do when it 49:22 comes to parents and kids and all that, we do everything we 49:25 can we go. I mean, there were times with the with this with 49:29 John and me. We our team is there to 8 o'clock 9 o'clock at 49:32 night, you know, trying to help him and and do what we can to 49:35 help. 49:36 You know, the shelters will will have spaces for single 49:40 moms with kids or I mean, moms with kids and and, you know, 49:44 for single man. But there aren't many spaces for single 49:48 fathers with kids. So you can. They can even be in a shelter 49:52 together, a lot of that high. So that was one of the 49:55 difficulties we face with ham. 49:58 And so, you know, we ended up our case management team, 50:01 all of our teams, really, they got together. They got him into 50:03 houses and housing. Now, you know, got them the resources he 50:06 needs. And we continue to see his kids will com, one of his 50:10 kids will calm like a every week or so and volunteer and be 50:13 a part of a salt and stuff and get back. But, you know, 50:17 we're continuing to just work with them. And the only taking 50:20 the church, you know, on the weekends and stuff like that 50:24 and his family. So so, yeah, it's it's it's really you know 50:29 what my wife and I were talking about. I'm just kind of the 50:33 miracles that what happened in Jesus Day, right. And 50:37 and in those miracles in with Ali would walk the right. 50:40 Those that were blind now had site. You know, we have guests 50:43 that we need to get glasses forks. They can't see a new 50:46 report it right. And then you see them with these glass after 50:49 years of not being able to see a RINO or whatever. You know, 50:54 there's just thought the whole the hopeless do have hope, 50:57 you know. And so it's just just an amazing thing to see kind of 51:03 comes to life today now. 51:05 >> You had mentioned that you wanted to tell Paula story in 51:08 this hour. What's what's special about Paula Story? 51:13 >> Paula, you know what? She exemplifies 51:17 one of the biggest populations were seen an increase of and 51:20 seniors, 60, 70, 80 year-old people that are, you know, 51:26 experiencing homelessness because our fixed income, 51:29 the rent goes up $300 600. And they can't afford that. 51:33 That kind of increase, you know, and so with rank going up 51:37 so much and are in central Florida. I mean, we just we had 51:40 a I mean, just you know, before the video with Paula and when 51:45 she could share a little bit of her experience pup, we had a 71 51:49 year-old woman that came to us experiencing homelessness for 51:51 the first time with her dog. Didn't know what to do. I mean, 51:54 we you know, she was overheating from the heat 51:56 outside. We brought her inside and, 51:59 you know, and just tried to do everything we could to get her 52:02 somewhere. But unfortunately, we're seeing a lot of that. 52:05 And and 52:07 >> Paul is one of those people. Let's roll that video so we can 52:09 keep that in the first hour. 52:11 >> Well, after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we now have 52:15 giving Tuesday and this is a DOT day really designed to 52:18 focus on spending. 52:21 >> On donations to charitable organizations. Last year, 52:24 though, Americans gave less than a year before giving us a 52:27 report that giving dropped 10.5% last year. It was only 52:32 the 4th time in 40 years of charitable giving didn't 52:36 increase year to year. 52:37 >> Spectrum News 13, Jeff Allen. He is joining us live 52:40 tonight from downtown Orlando. So Jeff, the head of a local 52:43 nonprofit he spoke with, 52:45 they say the drop in giving is really coming at a pretty bad 52:49 time when they're seeing more request for help. 52:53 [MUSIC] 52:55 >> The founder of service and Love Together or Salt Outreach 52:58 says on one hand, they're seeing those fewer donations. 53:02 And then they're also getting a higher demand from people who 53:05 are really having trouble keeping an affordable place to 53:08 live many of them homeless. So he's hoping giving Tuesday 53:11 will give them the financial boost they need. 53:14 Yeah. Just Paul and Johnson says after her landlord evicted 53:17 her leaving her homeless, she had no family to turn to. 53:21 She says are close is relative. Her brother was killed in a car 53:24 crash. 53:26 >> I don't feel like I would bet on the street if you 53:29 certain of it, I would go inside. 53:32 >> To take my shower. Johnson spent the last 5 months part of 53:35 that during the sweltering hot summer living on the streets of 53:38 Orlando. She says she's never liked asking for help that she 53:42 eventually sought help from Salt outreach which gave her a 53:45 place to shower, do laundry and just recently helped her find a 53:49 new home. I would word. 53:50 >> Think about my parents. They would tell me, you know, 53:53 you have to answer. Yes. 53:55 Don't be ashamed to ask for help there. 53:58 >> That's what I would do. I mean, I would break down and 54:01 down 54:03 say, I need you guys and help a neighbor right matters. I mean, 54:07 big-time write letters. 54:08 >> But salt is now in need of some of its own help. Founder 54:11 Erik Amarillo says this past year, they've seen an increase 54:15 in people seeking their services to centre rise and 54:18 seniors are rising young adults and youth. 54:20 >> We've seen a rise in single moms. They just can't keep up 54:24 with the rising cost of living the rising cost of rent. 54:26 >> The camera low says they're not bringing in as much money 54:29 to meet the needs of people have less. 54:32 >> Disposable income or income that they are a lot into 54:35 giving. And and we're seeing that. And and when with 54:39 increased demand for our services, 54:42 you know, we it's it's hard to keep up. 54:45 >> Camera low says due to the financial crimes, they've had 54:48 to reduce their service time by one hour each day, making it 54:51 harder to serve as many people like Johnson. But they're 54:54 hoping the decrease in donations won't last thanks to 54:58 solid outreach. Johnson says for the first time in a long 55:01 time she's thankful to have a place to call home. I pay you 55:05 what I looked up to the Lord. I said Thank you, Lord. 55:09 [MUSIC] 55:12 >> And Salt founder tells me that because he's a smaller non 55:16 profit. He really doesn't have the budget to do a yearlong 55:19 fundraising campaign like maybe like some bigger a nonprofit 55:22 organization. So he says that makes tomorrow giving Tuesday. 55:25 All the more important is hoping it will help him get 55:28 back on better financial footing with hopefully more 55:31 donations is helping reporting live in downtown Orlando. 55:34 Jeff Allen Spectrum News. 55:36 >> They may allow, you know, this is something that we don't 55:39 often speak up, but it seems that a lot of seniors, we 55:45 we're in that group, AARP members, and we get the we get 55:50 that frequently. They're sending out that seniors are 55:54 becoming the new poverty stricken in population and 55:58 cause of rent increases. But you had I had really taken 56:03 it to that point of thinking of them is losing their homes from 56:07 being homeless in this. You know what we've done this hour. 56:11 We let you see how salt has expanded. They've always had a 56:18 vision from God. 56:19 And I'll tell you what, God keeps expanding their vision. 56:24 But what was going to do in the next hour and help if you know 56:29 anyone that has heart and we should all have a heart to help 56:35 the homeless column now and say, hey, you know, you're 56:38 Feeding Ministry, you can connect with soap. You can 56:42 invite salt come out. And and so its meetings will explain at 56:48 all in the second. Now you can have them. They've got their 56:52 ministry model that can be duplicated anywhere in the 56:57 United States, not just in the United States. They're actually 57:00 getting phone calls and contacts from people in other 57:04 countries because this is something it's a service that 57:10 is modeling the way she's met, the needs of the people and in 57:16 men or stewed to them in a relation now. Way 57:21 one-on-one. It too beautiful ministry. And we want you to 57:26 stay tuned because we've got some exciting updates to talk 57:31 about on the other side of this hour or so. Please stay tuned. 57:36 Join us. 57:37 >> And we're going to see more of how God is leading salt to 57:42 be his hands to be on the air. 57:45 [MUSIC] 57:50 [MUSIC] 57:55 [MUSIC] |
Revised 2024-03-15