@japdmedia26: ​Apopka, Florida — Sal Perez Perez Piedra spent most of his life working in hospitality, including over a decade as a hotel front desk manager. When he retired at 70, he believed he had planned carefully enough to remain financially secure. ​“I had saved money, I crunched the numbers, and I came up with the conclusion that I had enough money for the next 10 years,” Perez Piedra said. ​Then he became seriously ill. His Medicare plan did not cover all his medical expenses, and over three years, those costs consumed his savings. ​“Medicare only pays 80% of your health medical costs. It was that 20% that did me in,” Perez Piedra said. “Looking back, if I would have had extra health insurance, it would have made all the difference in the world.” ​Unable to pay rent, Perez Piedra faced eviction. He moved essential items to storage and sought shelter. When time limits ran out, he slept upright on a bench in Apopka, facing Florida’s extreme weather. During roughly a year outside, Perez Piedra said he was assåulted four times. ​“This is not unique to me,” he said. “I could share with you stories that I have heard from other homeless people that make mine look like nothing.” ​His story reflects a broader trend. The 2026 Point-in-Time Count found 2,724 people experiencing homelessness across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties. Over 25% were 55 or older—a 6% increase from 2025. ​“Some of these seniors had been homeless for a while. They aged into senior status. But half of the adults over the age of 65 had never been homeless before,” said Martha Are, executive director of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida. ​Perez Piedra’s life changed when he met Apopka resident Dino Rachiele, president of Loaves and Fishes of Apopka. ​“I told him, ‘You’ll never be homeless again. I’ve got a hotel for you, and we’re going to take care of you,’” Rachiele said. ​Rachiele shared his story online, raising funds to keep Perez Piedra in a hotel while launching a GoFundMe campaign to clear medical debt and secure an apartment deposit. ​“I have, again, a roof over my head and a comfortable bed that I can sleep in without any fear every night,” Perez Piedra said. ​ ​#Apopka #Florida #SalPerezPiedra #DinoRachiele #japd

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Monday 05 October 2026 21:19:37 GMT