Wendover Opens Central Florida’s First Permanent Supportive Housing

Warley Park. Image courtesy of Wendover Housing Partners

Wendover Housing Partners has opened the 81-unit Warley Park in Sanford, Fla., the first permanent supportive housing community for the homeless in Central Florida. The developer broke ground on the $19 million project in April 2019, working together with Slocum Platts Architects and general contractor Roger B. Kennedy Construction.

Financing sources included funds from Florida Housing Finance Corp., provided through the 9 percent House Credits, State Apartment Incentive Loan and National Housing Trust Fund programs. FHFC also financed the construction of a 166-unit affordable community in Orlando, Fla., that has 50 percent of the units reserved to formerly homeless individuals and families.

Warley Park came online at 1500 W. 25th St. on a 4.5-acre vacant lot. The community consists of two buildings with one- to three-bedroom apartments. All units are reserved for homeless individuals and families, with a priority for veterans and the chronically homeless. Amenities include a multipurpose clubhouse, computer labs, activity rooms and meeting rooms.

The nonprofit Step Up on Second will provide on-site services such as mental health care, after-school kids programs, job training and placement, GED classes and educational programs for ongoing skills. Warley Park also has a commercial kitchen that can be used to train residents for restaurant jobs.

The property is some 23 miles northeast of downtown Orlando and 2 miles southwest of the city center. The community is just west of U.S. 17 and its shopping and dining venues.