Positively Osceola connected with influential community leaders, inviting them to reflect on the achievements and challenges of 2024 while sharing their aspirations and goals for 2025. Among those offering valuable insights and a forward-looking vision was Hope Partnership Founder and CEO Reverend Mary Lee Downey.
Reflecting on 2024: Building Hope and Homes in Osceola County
As I reflect on 2024, I am filled with gratitude and hope. This year has been one of remarkable achievements, hard-fought battles, and unwavering dedication to the belief that housing is a fundamental human right. At Hope Partnership, we hold fast to the conviction that every person deserves not just to survive, but to thrive. And that belief has driven every milestone we celebrated this year.
We’ve served over 100,000 neighbors since 2013, and this year alone, provided 1,716 meals, 151 IDs, and stable housing for 111 heartbeats.
One of our most significant accomplishments in 2024 was advancing the Thrive Studios project—transforming a former motel into 32 affordable studio apartments. This adaptive reuse project has been a labor of love and persistence. From navigating complex permitting processes to ensuring the design upholds the dignity of future residents, each step of this journey has reaffirmed our commitment to innovative housing solutions. Thrive Studios is more than just a building; it represents second chances, stability, and the beginning of a brighter future for many in our community.
In collaboration with the Osceola School Board, we achieved another milestone by successfully advocating for the revision of the impact fee structure for hotel conversions. This change paves the way for more affordable housing developments in the county to seek support from our school board. It was a long and challenging process, but the result will benefit generations to come by ensuring that affordable housing is not an afterthought but a priority.
Another point of pride this year has been our work with local partners, including Disney, to support affordable housing initiatives. By fostering these partnerships, we are creating new avenues for sustainable development that reflect the needs of our community. It’s a testament to what can be accomplished when private and public sectors unite with a shared vision.
However, 2024 was not without its challenges. This year, we encountered supply chain delays that slowed our affordable housing project, as well as community resistance to affordable housing initiatives—a sentiment known as “NIMBYism” or “not in my backyard.” Through open, honest conversations, we’re helping people see that safe, affordable housing strengthens entire communities. These challenges remind us that our mission is bigger than any one obstacle and drive us to keep going, no matter what.
As we look ahead to 2025, our vision is clear. We are steadfast in our mission to expand affordable housing options and continue dismantling systemic barriers that perpetuate poverty and homelessness. Thrive Studios is on track for completion, and we anticipate welcoming our first residents in the spring of 2026. Additionally, we are preparing for the groundbreaking of a new affordable housing community on a five-acre site—a project that will provide even more families with a safe, stable place to call home.
We are also deeply aware of the legislative landscape including the “Camping Bill,” which could further criminalize homelessness. At Hope Partnership, we firmly believe that experiencing homelessness is not a crime. In 2025, we will continue to advocate for policies that uplift rather than penalize, ensuring that the most vulnerable members of our community are met with compassion and support, not punishment.
The road ahead is not without obstacles, but I remain hopeful. The progress we’ve made in 2024 serves as a powerful reminder that change is possible when we come together with purpose and resolve. I am endlessly inspired by the resilience of our neighbors, the dedication of our team, and the unwavering support of our partners.
To everyone who has walked alongside us on this journey—thank you. Your belief in our mission fuels our work and brings us closer to the day when no one is left without a safe place to call home.
