CENTRAL REGION
$1.1 million FCLF financing
Rehabilitation loan of commercial/retail space
18,000 square feet for services to low-income and homeless populations
“The Sharing Center Team and I are thrilled about the renovation of The Village Shoppes. It marks a significant milestone in our 38-year commitment to serve and uplift the Central Florida community. This transformation will not only enhance our retail space but also expand our capacity to deliver crucial services and comprehensive support. We will deepen our impact on the lives of our community members in need. We are profoundly grateful for our partnership with Florida Community Loan Fund, whose support has been instrumental in enabling us to pursue this renovation, and to further our mission of providing dignified solutions for those experiencing poverty and homelessness." – Nina Yon, President & CEO, The Sharing Center
The Sharing Center has served Seminole County since 1986. Started from a collective vision of 17 area churches, The Sharing Center has evolved and adapted its services to meet the community’s changing needs and now stands as the primary social services hub in the County. With a mission to provide dignified solutions for individuals experiencing poverty and homelessness, The Sharing Center provides not just immediate relief, but also tools and resources for long-term self-sufficiency and an improved quality of life.
With financing from Florida Community Loan Fund, The Sharing Center will renovate its 18,000 square-foot retail space and thrift store known as The Village Shoppes. This project will expand the physical space available for shopping, improve efficiencies, and incorporate advanced technology for operations. The Village Shoppes not only provides a shopping alternative for those experiencing poverty and homelessness, but it also generates income for other programs offered by The Sharing Center, which include job training; financial education; digital literacy trainings; a food pantry; crisis support including financial assistance, free clothing and furniture; a homeless respite center (The Oasis) offering food, showers, laundry, and legal advice; and mental health counseling; and more. The plaza where the Village Shoppes is located also has retail space leased by Shepherd’s Hope, a nonprofit medical clinic, and three other local businesses.
The Sharing Center assisted over 20,000 individuals in 2023 with case management, groceries, hardship assistance, and other social services to help regain stability. The organization has a goal to significantly increase that impact through expanded programming. As one of the main revenue streams for programs, the renovation of this retail space will allow The Sharing Center to reach even more, and provide a deeper impact for, community residents who are experiencing poverty and homelessness.
