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Winter Garden homeless organization moves to evict client from transitional housing

Matthew’s Hope seeking immediate removal

News 6 Investigator Erik Sandoval knocks on the door of a home where a homeless organization claimed one of its clients is squatting. (Jim Cavanaugh, Copyright 2024 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.)

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – A homeless outreach center moved to evict some of its clients from its transitional housing program after they refused to leave.

On Wednesday, Matthew’s Hope filed a motion in Orange County court to evict Dennis Dewan and another man from an apartment in Winter Garden.

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Scott Billue, the founder and CEO of Matthews Hope, claimed the men were squatting in the home.

Watch News 6 original investigation

“We literally have had a small group – an effective group – training each other, if you will, and coaching each other on how to squat,” Billue told News 6 last week.

While not naming Dewan, Billue claimed 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.

“You have to have an eviction notice from the courts,” Dewan told News 6 last week.

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.

According to the eviction motion filed on Wednesday, Matthews Hope claims Dewan owes $1,060 in back rent after failing to pay rent the weeks of June 2, June 9, June 16 and June 23.

The organization asked a judge to remove Dewan and any other person residing in the apartment immediately.


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About the Author
Erik Sandoval headshot

Erik Sandoval joined the News 6 team as a reporter in May 2013 and became a Manager of Content and Coverage in November 2024.

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