The Family of Friends, Inc

Pros

• The youth hopes for a safer and cleaner group home for the next generation of children.
• The youth believes that meaningful change can bring better care and treatment.
• The youth desires reliable access to food, clean water, and hygiene supplies.
• The youth wants management to be accountable and present to listen to residents' concerns.
• The youth envisions a future where residents are heard and respected.

Cons

• The group home is dirty, filthy, and unsafe, with holes in the walls and visible deterioration.
• Mold is present in wall corners and on the roof, with water damage growing rapidly.
• Loose fixtures protrude from the roof.
• The facility does not provide enough food; food is locked in a garage, leaving the children hungry.
• Residents must drink dirty tap water because most appliances do not work.
• The home provides inadequate hygiene toiletries and does not support kids of color.
• When residents voice concerns, staff ignore them to prioritize the organization's finances over children's welfare.
• Medical needs are neglected; staff refuse hospital visits or timely care when injured or in pain.
• Staff are rude and scream at the children; the environment feels unsafe.
• There have been no inspections this year or since the youth moved in, suggesting a lack of oversight.
• Wifi is unavailable and after-school transportation is unreliable, causing missed meetings with a guardian ad litem.

Review

Several youths living in this foster group home describe it as the most dangerous and unsafe place they have ever endured. They recount a setting that should serve as a temporary, protective space but instead feels unpredictable and threatening. The accounts share a common sense of neglect, with physical decay surrounding them and a sense that safety has fallen by the wayside. Holes in the walls, visible deterioration, and a ballroom and roof marked by mold paint a picture of a building that is not cared for. Crumbling infrastructure, including loose fixtures that protrude from ceilings, is described as a daily reminder of the neglect these kids are supposed to be shielded from. The weather seems to exacerbate the damage, and mold growth in corners and along walls is a recurring theme, signaling ongoing moisture problems and unsanitary conditions.

The environment inside the home compounds the sense of danger. Structural and maintenance issues are described as persistent, creating potential hazards that should be addressed immediately but aren't. The mold and water damage are not isolated complaints; they are part of a larger pattern of deterioration that reviewers say is "rapidly" getting worse due to the weather and lack of timely repairs. The concern about safety is intertwined with a fear that the building itself is failing the children who live there, suggesting that the very walls meant to provide shelter are compromised and in need of urgent intervention.

Nutrition and basic supplies are another area of grave concern. Reviewers say there is not enough food to nourish the kids throughout the week. When some food is eventually purchased, it is locked away in a garage, and staff members who hold the keys are not always available to unlock it for the youths. This means that children can be left to go hungry while waiting for higher-level staff to intervene, a delay that can stretch over days or longer. In addition to food, there are reports of dirty tap water being the only available option since the appliances that should provide clean water do not work for the majority of the time. The combination of food shortages and unsafe water creates a troubling environment where basic needs are not reliably met.

Hygiene, toiletries, and equitable treatment are cited as additional shortcomings. The stories claim that not enough toiletries are provided for proper hygiene, and there is a disturbing claim that youths of color do not receive the same level of support as their peers. Voices from the children are reportedly ignored when they raise concerns, with the administration framed as prioritizing the organization's economic needs over the well-being of the kids in its care. This sense of neglect is reinforced by frequent assertions that the system operates more to serve the facility's finances than to protect and support the young residents.

Oversight, inspections, and access to basic services are described as severely lacking. One reviewer questions why there have been no inspections this year and none since a move occurred in October, implying a breakdown in accountability. There are also practical barriers to staying connected and receiving help: there is no Wi-Fi at the group home since November of 2023, which forces communications to occur at school or through less reliable means. Transportation for after-school pickups is inconsistent, especially when staff do not have the kids at the home. The reviewer explains that they were forced to miss the bus to attend a meeting with their guardian ad litem, and the only way to complete the meeting was to do it at school because there was no reliable way to connect from the home. These systemic gaps - insufficient connectivity, unreliable transportation, and a lack of on-site staff during critical times - underscore a failing infrastructure that leaves youths physically and emotionally isolated.

The health and safety of residents is raised in a particularly alarming incident. One youth recalls waking up with a painful neck condition and asking staff to take them to the hospital; the staff refused, saying the pain would go away in a few hours, and they persisted in declining medical attention. This specific denial of medical care highlights a broader pattern of dismissiveness toward serious health concerns and a reluctance to engage with medical support when it seems inconvenient to staff. The refusal to seek urgent care in a moment of clear distress paints a troubling portrait of how health issues are managed within the facility.

Collectively, the reviews depict a living environment that feels unclean, overcrowded with neglect, and emotionally hostile. Descriptions of the home range from dirty and filthy to unsafe and chaotic, with staff portrayed as rude and prone to screaming at children. The absence of visible leadership is a recurring theme - bosses rarely appear, and the facility is perceived as underfunded and mismanaged. The overall tone is one of frustration and urgency: a sense that what should be a protective space is instead a site of ongoing harm, with children left to cope under conditions that threaten their health, safety, and dignity. The repeated plea from these youths is for meaningful change to protect the next generation of children who must live there, a call for cleaning up, securing basic needs, and restoring a sense of safety and humanity in a place meant to shelter and support them.

Located in Sanford, Florida, this area offers a variety of amenities for seniors looking for a convenient and comfortable living environment. With numerous parks such as Fort Mellon Park and Mariner's Cove Park nearby, residents can enjoy outdoor activities and recreational opportunities. There are several restaurants like Celery City Craft and St Johns River Steak & Seafood for dining options, as well as cafes like Starbucks for a quick pick-me-up. For healthcare needs, there are several physician offices including Central Florida Family Health Center and Nemours Children's Urgent Care, along with pharmacies like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens for medication needs. Transportation options include Deltona Executive Airport and the Orlando Sanford International Airport for traveling convenience. Additionally, places of worship like Central Baptist Church provide spiritual support for those seeking a community connection. Overall, this area in Sanford provides a range of services to cater to the needs of seniors looking to settle down in a vibrant and accessible neighborhood.

Parks

• Fort Mellon Park (1.4 miles)
• Mariner's Cove Park (3.8 miles)
• Sunland Park (4.7 miles)
• Bill Keller Park (6 miles)
• Campbell Park (6.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Celery City Craft (1.7 miles)
• Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe (1.7 miles)
• St Johns River Steak & Seafood (1.8 miles)
• Deviant Wolfe Brewing (1.8 miles)
• Mr. Z's (1.9 miles)
• George's Tavern (2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)

Physicians

• Central Florida Family Health Center (1.7 miles)
• Central Florida Regional Hospital (2.8 miles)
• Center for Dermatology & Skin Surgery (3.2 miles)
• Annabell Torres (4.6 miles)
• Team Health (5.8 miles)
• Nemours Children's Urgent Care (5.8 miles)
• Colleen L. McLeod, MD (6.3 miles)

Transportation

• Deltona Executive Airport (1.8 miles)
• Orlando Sanford International Airport (1.9 miles)
• Sanford Sunrail Station Sanford (3.6 miles)
• Debary Sunrail Station (6.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Winn-Dixie (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.3 miles)
• Walgreens (4.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.6 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (6.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Central Baptist Church (3.9 miles)
• Identity Church (6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (5.8 miles)
• Starbucks (7.3 miles)
• Starbucks (7.6 miles)
• Starbucks (8.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Florida Hospital Lake Mary ER (6.7 miles)
• AdventHealth Fish Memorial (8.2 miles)