Emergency Shelter

Helping Hands is a local nonprofit charity, helping people begin a new and better life. We primarily serve homeless, displaced, or abused people, mostly women and children throughout Ocala and Marion County. Helping Hands owns and operates two apartment buildings, containing 36 bedrooms (fully furnished). The apartments are in a safe place and provide a friendly and loving environment. We average 40 – 45 residents at any one time. We also operate two Thrift stores which help provide jobs and job training for our residents.

The Home Free program reunites youth with their family or legal guardian or helps them get to an alternative living arrangement (ALA), such as a community-based transitional living program, through a free bus ticket.

This program provides:

– Transportation for runaway youth
– Help find housing

Youth must initiate the process by calling NRS’ hotline and speaking with NRS Crisis Services team about their situation. Youth will also be screened for signs of human trafficking.

At the request of a youth, NRS can help identify and access a local safe place, such as a police station, runaway and homeless youth service provider, shelter, other local youth service provider, or a hospital emergency room. Once they are in a safe place, the Home Free application process can begin.

Open Arms Village exists to create a safe community that treats homeless individuals with dignity and provides for their basic needs. We provide a full array of programs and services that clients can use to move themselves toward independence. Open Arms Village includes physical, mental, and spiritual program elements. *Open Arms is a Men’s Facility.

ResCare is the industry leader in the state of Florida. ResCare Florida provides residential services and community living supports to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Individuals take an active role in developing their individual service plan with our interdisciplinary team. We encourage the people we support to engage in family and community activities that may include participation in clubs, classes, athletics, church and other organizations.

We help individuals achieve their highest level of independence at home and in the community. States determine what kinds of community living services they provide. These services are typically funded by Medicaid or other funding.

Saving Mercy Corporation is a non-profit agency that was established in 2016 by a group of concerned citizens who had a heart for the homeless, and wanted to make a meaningful impact in the lives of the chronically homeless within Ocala and Marion County.

We offer case management services to the homeless and help with housing. We hope to begin our construction project soon to build a new community on site that will include multi-family apartments, an administration building with meeting rooms, maintenance storage and laundry facilities. The new community will include an open green space, a playground and recreation area!

Shepherd’s LightHouse has years of experience in helping families and individuals through life’s storms. Shepherd’s LightHouse has many different programs to help our communities homeless families. We are a non-profit that is funded by various different groups allowing us to help with the needs of our clients.

Along with a successful transitional living program, we also manage affordable apartment living, Bridgeway Apartments.

The Thrift Store provides us with regular income and it provides volunteer opportunities for the community. The store also provides a means for our clients to learn skills such as customer service, displaying and cashier.

Shepherd’s LightHouse continues to do outreach through the community with school supply drives and gifts for holidays such as Christmas.

1. Supportive Services for Veteran Families provides temporary and supportive services for Veterans and Veteran families with low or no income. The goal of the program is to promote housing stability through assistance and support services to homeless persons or those at risk of homelessness. Services provided include: Housing Navigation: Housing search and identification to quickly move Veteran households into permanent housing. Temporary Financial Assistance, Case Management, Resource Connections, and Crisis Resolution.

2. Ocala Ritz Veterans Village provides clinical treatment, transitional housing, and individualized case management for Veterans experiencing homelessness in Marion County, Florida. The program is designed to help Veterans stabilize, rebuild their lives, and prepare for independent living through safe housing, structured support, and access to therapeutic services.

3. Volunteers of America of Florida Affordable Housing Apartments provide affordable housing to low-income families. Tenants are able to stay in the program indefinitely if eligible and needed.

We empower the underserved to overcome generational trauma, break cycles of dependency, and rewrite their narratives with dignity.

Since its establishment in 2009, Wear Gloves has positively influenced the lives of thousands through our innovative approach centered on dignity rather than dependency.

In order to support the success of our clients, we offer comprehensive support services tailored to meet diverse needs. We celebrate the unique strengths of every individual, empowering them to become active and valued community members through employment, workforce development, job certifications, supportive housing, and life skills training.