WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – A homeless outreach organization has halted its transitional housing program after one of its clients refused to leave after being kicked out of the program.
“We literally have had a small group – an effective group – training each other, if you will, and coaching each other on how to squat,” said Scott Billue.
Billue founded Matthew’s Hope 14 years ago to help the homeless get back on their feet.
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He claims one of their clients stopped following the rules of their program and was told to leave his transitional housing.
He refuses to leave, Billue said.
Dennis Dewan told News 6 he is the client Matthew’s Hope is referring to.
“You have to have an eviction notice from the courts,” he said.
He claimed Matthew’s Hope owes him payment for work performed as part of the program.
“I’m not leaving until I get my money,” he said.
News 6 first met Dewan last year when he was working at Matthew’s Hope to qualify for this transitional housing program.
Billue said he contacted Winter Garden police to help remove Dewan and a roommate from the premises, but officers did not do it.
He said that has resulted in their relationship with the police department growing more sour by the day.
News 6 contacted the Winter Garden Police Department, and they refused to speak on camera.
Instead, they sent a written statement:
“Matthew’s Hope has requested the police department’s assistance in removing people from their housing units within the city. The occupants have been called squatters. However, Matthew’s Hope allowed these people to live in these residential units in exchange for services or work they do for Matthew’s Hope. To our knowledge, Matthew’s Hope has not sought an eviction through the judicial process. Some of these residents of our city have lived in these housing units for over a year. We have informed Matthew’s Hope to use the civil process to evict the tenants if they believe they are entitled to evict them, because some or all of these individuals who Matthew’s Hope has sought our assistance in removing maybe tenants and not squatters. The purpose of the civil judicial process is to ensure that due process is provided to all of our residents. The City’s attorneys are in contact with legal representatives from Matthew’s Hope. The Police Department remains available to consider any further information provided by Matthew’s Hope or the residents. Additionally, we remain prepared to enforce the Order of any Court of competent jurisdiction in this matter.”
Winter Garden Police Chief Steve Graham
If Dewan and his roommate are deemed squatters, police will have more power to remove them after July 1.
That’s when HB 621 takes effect.
The law, signed by Gov. DeSantis, R-FL, will make it a second-degree felony to remain on someone’s property after being told to vacate.
Billue said he hopes police remove Dewan after the law takes effect, and he hopes the relationship with the department improves.
“Once the prisoners take over the asylum, you’re in trouble,” he said. “Right now, what’s happened is that most of our folks are good folks. It takes only a handful of ruin it for everybody and that’s what we’re seeing. “
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