Our Services

Since 1986, The Sharing Center has worked to prevent homelessness in Seminole County by helping children & families with critical needs during financial emergencies caused by job loss and health problems.

The growing number of the “new homeless” - families with children and often with at least one parent still holding a job - is a problem The Sharing Center has been seeing and addressing for several years. During 2009  & 2010, The Sharing Center rescued 1,545 families who were about to become homeless or were already finding shelter wherever they could, sometimes a friend’s spare room or couch, their own car or van, or even a tent in the woods. Perhaps you saw the “60 Minutes” TV episode that highlighted these problems in Seminole County.

Five-year-old Kayla was among the earlier victims of the recession that The Sharing Center helped. Kayla did end up in a tent in the woods with her Mom and Dad for several miserable, scary weeks one winter before The Sharing Center learned about the family and put them in a low-budget motel while helping them find permanent housing and new jobs. Our Service Coordinator said

I had such a knot in my throat watching Kayla run around the motel suite, shouting 'Look! I have a bed to sleep in again! We have a kitchen again, and there's a bathroom!

To better - and more quickly - lift children like Kayla and those you heard on “60 Minutes” back to safety, The Sharing Center is working on a new transitional program where children and their families who are temporarily without homes will have a place to take showers, do laundry, get haircuts. There will be computer access for job searches and a place for children to do their schoolwork. This will drastically ease distress for the whole family as The Sharing Center’s service coordinators help them to move back to a more stable footing.

How We Help

Assistance is given free of charge and may include food, clothing, help with costs of basic needs for rent/mortgage, transportation, bus tokens, costs of prescriptions and other medical issues, utilities, household goods, and other items specific to individual needs. Food pantries and casework offices are located in Longwood and in Sanford.

Special Assistance Programs

MedNet Navigator - helps children & adults to get life-saving prescription medicines at low-cost or no cost.

Health Navigator - helps children & adults to find a medical "home," a primary care physician or specialist. This lessens the burden on local hospital emergency rooms and clinics being used as primary care facilities by uninsured or under-insured people.

Live, Work, Hope - This program funded through HUD assists homeless families and individuals in accomplishing goals of increasing their skills and income, achieving stable housing, and achieving greater self-determination. 

Special Holiday Programs - Throughout the year, we address special needs such as new shoes for children, back-to-school necessities, and holiday meals. These needs and special drives vary from season to season, and there are always opportunities for individuals, businesses and groups of all ages to help with raising funds or holding drives for specific purposes. Call 407.260.9155 ext.114 if you can help with a special purpose drive. 

One-Stop Non-Profit Hub - The Sharing Center is transforming its 37,804 sq. ft. plaza in Longwood into a one-stop non-profit hub where people find help with a variety of needs in one location as The Sharing Center adds additional services and welcomes other non-profits to the plaza.