More Wheels on The Street for The Source’s Dignity Bus

The Source launched their newest Dignity Bus at an official launch event on Wednesday, August 28 at the Women’s Club located in historic downtown Vero Beach. The event featured a short program, a tour of the bus and light refreshments. It was attended by nearly 110 people that included local officials, friends and board members of The Source, as well as Cheryl Robinson, the major donor of this newest Dignity Bus and her family.

This Bus is the third for Indian River County, but the fifth in The Source’s fleet; the other two reside in Rhode Island and Illinois with area non-profit organizations operating them. Since 2022, two Dignity Buses have operated in Indian River County as a temporary shelter for the homeless population. Between the two vehicles, 36 people have had the opportunity to sleep off the streets, with a roof over their heads, in a safe and secure location every night of the week, all year round. The newest bus has 19 beds making it a total of 55 safe sleeps each night right here in our own backyards.

While all three buses are very similar on the interior layout, they each have some differences that set them apart: Bus #1 sleeps 20 individuals; Bus #2 is slightly smaller and sleeps 16, while the newest bus has 19 sleeping pods (beds). The bathroom in the new bus has been enlarged to provide a larger hand washing sink, one bedding section offers a triple bunk bed rather than the standard double bunks throughout, and in the baggage area below, a full washer and dryer has been installed. The exterior is also very different, meaningful to the donor and very striking. The other two out-of-state buses also differ with heating elements for the cold weather and one has handicapped access from the rear of the bus and is equipped with one handicapped sleeping pod.

This vehicle is, in part, due to a generous donation made by an area resident who lost her husband and son. Donor Cheryl Robinson has honored her family with additions to the exterior wrapping of the bus, and on the interior, scriptures engraved underneath each bed that offer prayer to each person sleeping in it.

Anthony Zorbaugh, Executive Director of The Source explains that the Dignity Bus is in compliance to the new Florida HB 1365 ordinance imposed by the Florida State Senate.  This ordinance titled “Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping,” prohibits counties and municipalities from authorizing or allowing public camping or sleeping on public property. Homeless individuals are prohibited from camping on city streets, sidewalks, and parks and instead placed in temporary shelters monitored by law enforcement agencies under the new law, which takes effect Oct. 1.

For more information on Dignity Bus, please contact Anthony Zorbaugh or Jonathan Orozco at 772-564-0202.