Press Release: SALT continuing forward amid funding shortfall

07/14/2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SALT Outreach Secures Critical Funding to Continue Services for the Homeless Amid Financial Challenge

Central Florida, July 14, 2024 — In response to a sudden funding shortfall that threatened to suspend services some services for people experiencing homelessness in downtown Orlando, SALT Outreach announces a significant turnaround in its ability to continue operations uninterrupted. Originally set to suspend some services on July 15th, SALT Outreach has successfully mobilized support from various stakeholders, ensuring consistent support for the unsheltered.

The funding challenge, exacerbated by a reduction in local government COVID-related funding totaling over half a million for 2024, prompted the organization to seek creative solutions to maintain essential services. Despite these setbacks, the community's response has been overwhelmingly supportive, leading to a pivotal $300,000 donation from the Big Nova Foundation.

"We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from the public and our partners like the Big Nova Foundation," said Eric Camarillo, CEO of SALT Outreach. "Their generosity ensures that we can continue providing critical, life-sustaining services to those in need while we await the completion of the city's new drop-in center in Q4 of 2025."

"The Big Nova Foundation feels honored to be able to grant $300,000, to ensure SALT Outreach is able to continue the services its guests utilize.” said Sarah Asma, Executive Director for the Big Nova Foundation. “Everyone deserves the basic dignity of a shower and clean clothes.  We are looking forward to being a partner with SALT into the future to ensure that these services and the many others they provide are not only continued but expanded. Our greatest hope is that our confidence in Eric and his staff through this grant, will inspire others in our community to support their work."

In addition to the $300,000 donation, SALT Outreach is actively raising an additional $200,000 to reach a total of $500,000. This financial support is crucial in enabling the organization to expand and sustain its impact on homelessness in central Florida.

"Our team has been praying to God for a miracle, and it has come through the overwhelming support of our community, partners, and in our new partner the Big Nova Foundation" added Camarillo. "This funding not only allows us to continue our mission but also strengthens our resolve to make strides toward ending homelessness in our region."

For more information on how to support SALT Outreach or to learn about their services, please visit SALT Outreach or contact him at eric@saltoutreach.org.

About SALT Outreach:

SALT Outreach’s mission is to share Christ’s love by serving the unsheltered through comprehensive mobile drop-in centers. They serve across Central Florida with their biggest operation being in downtown Orlando, serving over 100 people a day, five days a week. On top of providing showers and laundry services through the use of trailers and vehicles, they also provide other crucial services such as mail, case management, and mental health counseling. Since August of 2020, SALT has provided over 300,000 different services to 7,000 different people. Since then, SALT has helped to support over 1,500 out of homelessness through a coordinated community effort.