ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Some Central Florida young adults facing homelessness will finally have a home this season. Thanks to an initiative offering free housing and other services to help them get back on their feet. “It was transformational,” said Bobby Hermida, describing his journey to recovery.
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Hermida has been sober for almost seven years and the thanks is mainly to Zebra Youth.
“I was seeing a therapist at Zebra when I was seeking sobriety, and I was struggling,” said Hermida. “I was at a breaking point, and my therapist suggested that I move into transitional housing. I built a foundation at Zebra that allowed my journey of healing to be sustainable.”
Bobby is just one of the countless lives touched by Zebra Youth. The non-profit on Mills Avenue in Orlando brings together a network of organizations teaming up to empower LGBTIQ+ youth.
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One of their services is housing. “This is our brand new transitional residential space. Transitional housing means they can stay here for up to two years, usually one year, depending on their situation.
The goal is to move them toward independence and self-sufficiency,” said Heather Wilkie with Zebra Youth, showing the new housing facility in Orange County.
According to Zebra, LGBTQ+ young people are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBTQ youth. The temporary home has everything you can think of – water, furniture, electricity, internet – and everything is free.
“We are hoping to move youth in very soon. We’ve had a waitlist for quite some time, so this will provide 12 units,” said Wilkie.
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On top of free housing, with all the bills paid for, Zebra also helps young adults with job placement and mental health programs. “Our young people are the future, so to be able to provide this safety net is so important because we know there are so many young people who need this assistance,” said Wilkie.
After years of working on his recovery, Bobby is giving back to the organization he says saved his life.
“I sit on the board of directors for Zebra Coalition, and I feel as though my lived experience allows me to bring something to the table,” said Hermida. “It changed my life because I’m sitting here today sober and clean.”
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Zebra Youth is always looking for volunteers to help with their mission. To get involved, click here. (https://zebrayouth.org/take-action/volunteer/).
To apply for the Zebra Youth’s Housing Program, click here (https://zebrayouth.org/programs-services/housing/)
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