NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
Sleeping soundly
FALL 2022: 75
Dignity Bus offers the homeless an innovative place
to rest overnight in Brevard and Indian River counties
t any given time, there are
approximately 250 homeless
people living in Indian River
County and between 3,000
and 3,500 in Brevard County. Some sleep
in cars. Others live in tents. Still others
simply throw an old blanket on the
ground in the woods and try to get a few
hours rest.
They are everyday people who are simply
down on their luck and struggling to
get back on their feet. In addition to
the basic need for food, clothing and
housing, what these people really need is
a good night’s sleep to face the hurdles
of the following day.
The Source is a Vero Beach-based
Christian Outreach Ministry that has
offered life changing services to residents
in crisis since 1995. It recognized
the critical need for the homeless
population to get a good night’s sleep
and introduced the Dignity Bus to Indian
River County in March 2021.
The bus is a 45-foot vehicle that’s been
converted to an overnight shelter for
those who have nowhere else to go. Its
customized interior provides 20 secure,
climate controlled individual sleep pods
with a lockable door, under-bus storage,
pet pods for companion animals, an
onboard overnight security person and
monitored CCTV surveillance. While
By Kerry Firth
Passengers are ready to
board the Dignity Bus
provided by The Source,
a Vero Beach outreach
ministry offering a place for
the homeless to sleep safely.
KERRY FIRTH
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