407 Connect Success Stories
Last updated on September 24, 2026
Orlando, Fla. – September 23, 2026 – Just over one year after its launch, the City of Orlando’s innovative 407 Connect program has helped more than 160 people transition from homelessness into housing, surpassing the pace anticipated when the three-year program was established.
Launched in August 2025 through a partnership between the City of Orlando, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Christian Service Center (CSC), 407 Connect was designed to provide more than a safe place to stay. The program pairs overnight shelter with individualized case management, housing assistance and wrap-around services to help people experiencing homelessness move toward stability and housing.
The program was initially projected to connect approximately 407 people to housing over three years. In just over one year, more than 160 individuals have already moved into housing, demonstrating the pace and potential of the program while highlighting the continued need for housing-focused interventions for people experiencing homelessness.
407 Connect: By the Numbers:
Since launching, 407 Connect has provided shelter, case management and support to 260 individuals.
169 individuals have transitioned from homelessness into housing.
21 individuals are currently receiving services and working with case managers.
12 people were housed last week.
Five individuals are scheduled to move into housing this week.
“407 Connect was created with a simple premise: a safe place to sleep should be the beginning of a path to housing, not the end of the conversation,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “Our progress is a testament to what is possible when our staff, our service providers and our community work together to connect people with the support they need.”
The buses provide overnight accommodations for up to 42 people each night, with 21 sleeping pods per bus, climate-controlled sleeping quarters, privacy curtains, electrical outlets and chargers, storage, restrooms and onboard security.
But the buses are only one part of the 407 Connect model.
Through a $3 million investment from the CRA, participants are identified through the CSC’s case management process and receive individualized support focused on addressing barriers to housing and stability. Approximately one-third of the program’s operating funding is dedicated to move-in costs, rental assistance and family reunification, helping participants overcome some of the immediate financial barriers that can prevent a transition into housing.
“Every person who moves into housing represents a significant step forward, not just for that individual, but for our entire community,” said Christian Service Center Executive Director Eric Gray. “407 Connect gives our team the opportunity to build relationships, understand each person’s circumstances and provide the practical resources needed to help them move toward housing and greater stability.”
The program’s early results have included individuals securing employment and housing, families reuniting, and people who had experienced prolonged periods of homelessness moving into stable housing.
As 407 Connect enters its next phase, the city plans to showcase the program and its innovative bus model to other municipalities, sharing lessons learned and demonstrating how communities can use creative, cost-effective approaches to connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter, services and housing.
See the impact of 407 Connect: Hear the stories of people whose lives have been changed through the program.
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