The motels along HWY-192 in Kissimmee were built for tourists, but Eyewitness News discovered they're being used by many homeless families with young children.
"Its hard when you have to humble yourself so far down where you have no where else to go," said Angie Moore who is homeless.For Angie and Eric Moore, a small motel room is a big blessing.
Last week they were sleeping in the back seat of their van with their 9-year-old daughter."We would go to hotel parking lot, hoping and praying they wouldn't find us and ask us to leave anyplace where there wasn't high traffic that's where would park our van," she said.
The Moores' got help form The Home Program, which is a non-profit organization that provides motel vouchers and temporary housing assistance.
The Moores are living next to other families who are also homeless.
"It really breaks your heart when you see kids panhandling for food," she said.
Half of all homeless students in Osceola County, about 500 of them live in motels.In Orange County WFTV found the number of homeless students increased by nearly 1,000, from 1,750 last year to more than 2,500 students this year.School buses drop the students off right in front of the hotel lobby. Many of their parents lost their jobs and then their homes.
"We have new foreclosure everyday, new evictions every day," said Carrie Eule of the Home Program.
Eule runs the Home Program, which is helping the Moore's find jobs and paying for their motel room for one month.
The Moores say they are hoping the home is only temporary.
"I want to help someone else who is going through the same thing," said Angie Moore.
The home program provides housing assistance for 300 families a year in Osceola County and they are hoping to get more federal stimulus dollars.
Copyright 2009 by wftv.com.
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