As the jobless and homeless situation worsens, two area charities are trying to make sure there is room at the inn.The Christian Care Center Inc. of First Baptist Church in Leesburg and Helping Hands Foundation Inc. in Ocala are converting old motels into shelters for the homeless, the jobless and recovering addicts. Art Ayris, executive pastor of Leesburg’s First Baptist, and Brad Dinkins, an Ocala real estate developer, are leading the effort.
Dinkins was touched by the need recently, during a visit to the Salvation Army.
“I just cared about the homeless and wanted to give them a better life,” Dinkins said. “I had a little extra time and had put aside a little extra money and wanted to put it to good use.“
To get things started, Dinkins organized a board consisting of bank executive Lori Boring, CPA Daryl Collier and himself. Dinkins decided to use a family-owned motel, Cascade Oaks, to provide temporary housing for homeless men and hired some of the residents to renovate the 10 two-bedroom apartments. In turn, the residents are taking in other homeless men as roommates.
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