If you have been following the news lately, you may have come across the term “low-barrier” in reference to the proposed and recently canceled plans for a homeless shelter in the SoDo district. The planned shelter faced backlash from SoDo residents since being announced, with much of the concern and criticism directed at the shelter’s “low-barrier admission” model.
But what does “low-barrier admission” really mean? Why would a proposed shelter, a facility that garners enough controversy on its own, adopt such a model if it attracts “vagrants” who are too unstable to stay elsewhere, as opponents of the shelter have suggested? The truth is that when we frame “low-barrier” as a negative, it not only misses the point of these programs—it ignores the humanity and complex issues faced by our unhoused neighbors who use them.
Believe it or not, there are many reasons why someone may end up sleeping in the streets rather than in shelter. Maybe they have a pet that cannot enter the shelter with them. Maybe they have mobility issues and cannot access a top bunk, the only bed available for them that night. Or maybe they currently do not have any identification.
Whichever one of these boxes someone may check, one thing remains true. These people still deserve a safe place to lay their heads at night. People experiencing homelessness in our community deserve to have access to services that will help them get back on their feet.
Here at the Christian Service Center, we are proud to operate the only “low-barrier” day service centers in Downtown Orlando and Ocoee. Being a no-barrier campus means that guests can visit CSC without worrying about issues such as lack of ID, a criminal record, or something as simple as having a pet. We do not operate with the expectation that everyone coming to our campus has it all together. Instead, we serve as a safe, welcoming space where an average of 500 people come every day to receive services that address their immediate needs as well as more advanced solutions to get them housed, hired, and healthy.
People like Jane (name changed for anonymity), who shared, “Prior to arriving at the Christian Service Center people said some of the cruelest things to us as if we chose to be where we were. Because of [CSC’s] compassion and generosity, we headed to another city to begin a new life. Within the first week of arriving in our new city, we were able to stay with relatives and secure employment.”
Being “low-barrier” allows us to form relationships, build trust, and ultimately help people escape from homelessness. But the stigma and misinformation surrounding homelessness remain the greatest barriers to real solutions. By eliminating these misconceptions, we can build a more compassionate community—one that sees people for who they are, not just the challenges they face.