ORLANDO, Fla. – As the federal government took action to pause financial assistance programs, local organizations like the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida are left uncertain about their future operations.

Martha Are, CEO of the Homeless Services Network, described the situation as filled with unknowns after a memo from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) froze funding for all federal financial assistance programs.

“The day has been very busy,” Are said. “But it’s still filled with a lot of unknowns.”

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Are explained that if federal funds were to stop flowing immediately, it could significantly disrupt their work.

“Across our system, not just with us, it could hinder the ability to keep shelters open,” she said. “It could hinder the ability to pay rent for some people.”

On Tuesday, Are attempted to access the organization’s federal funds but was unable to log in.

“We haven’t been able to draw down dollars that we had hoped would help tie us over if things were frozen for a couple weeks,” she added.

Orlando Congressman Maxwell Frost spoke about the directive, emphasizing the broad impact it has on local communities.

“At first we had an assumption of who this would be impacting, but then after we got calls, we realized it’s far-reaching,” Frost said. “There are organizations that just can’t access their federal funds right now.”

Frost specifically mentioned the Homeless Services Network, highlighting their critical role in providing shelter, meals, and rental assistance in Central Florida.

“The Homeless Services Network literally works at keeping people off the streets, whether it’s beds, feeding people, but also they provide rental assistance to many Floridians, and rent is due this weekend,” he said.

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings echoed these concerns.

“That is a ripple effect that is going to impact the entire country,” Demings said. “We don’t know how long that will be, what that means.”

Are said her organization is doing its best to prepare for potential challenges while remaining hopeful.

“We are very much trying to be proactive and do everything we can do, but we are also trying to stay calm because we don’t want to assume the worst and then find out that it’s not going to be so bad,” she said.

The organization and others impacted by the potential freeze are closely monitoring updates from the federal government.

On Tuesday evening, a federal judge blocked the directive just minutes before it was to kick in Tuesday. The order placed it on hold until next Monday while legal wrangling continues.

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