About Us
Clarita’s House Outreach Ministry is a non-profit program for the homeless and disadvantaged. We are a Christ centered program based on biblical principles. We are committed to serving God and the needy men, women and children of Osceola and Orange County of Central Florida.
Our Mission
Our Mission is to assist homeless and underprivileged individuals and families in achieving self-sufficiency and inspire them to reconnect with society productively.
Our Vision
Our Impact
We are committed to serving God and the needs of the homeless and disadvantaged in our community. The face of homelessness is diverse and includes mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, grandparents of all racial and ethnic minorities. Florida has the third-largest homeless population in the United States at 27,487, and 12,672 individuals are unsheltered. These individuals experiencing homelessness include 19% with chronic disabling conditions, 17% are children under the age of 18, Veterans make up about 9%, and youth between the age of 18-24 make up 6%. In addition, the Florida Department of Education reported that as of September 2020, 79,949 homeless children were attending public schools.
Our History
Doreen Edwards-Barker was born in Jamaica West Indies; she relocated to the United States at an early age. She gave her heart to the Lord in her teens and has always felt the call of God on her life to serve others. Serving others was instilled in her by her mother Clarita Edwards who was her inspiration for starting a homeless ministry. In 1986 she graduated from Bethel Bible Institute of Cambridge, Massachusetts where she completed a three year in-depth course of bible study. Her involvement in street outreach ministry and feeding the homeless started shortly after. In September 1999 Doreen and Aldwin were married. Together their passion to serve the homeless and less fortunate grew and in 2002 when they relocated to Florida, they immediately saw the need to assist in homeless ministries. Doreen was the director of Hope for Destiny at New Destiny Christian Center. While at New Destiny she also received certification for Prison Fellowship and would visit the prisons with the prison ministry team. Doreen is a ordained minister with a ministry to serve the less fortunate.
Since 2005 Doreen and Aldwin have been devoting a great amount of time working with the homeless and needy in Orange and Osceola Counties of Central Florida. In 2007 Clarita’s House Outreach Ministries Inc. was founded in hopes of taking their ministry to the next level. Together with a dedicated board of directors and their volunteer team, they are serving the homeless & disadvantaged on the streets, in homeless camps, shelters, cars, motels, senior housing and wherever there is a need.
Aldwin Barker is a native of Trinidad West Indies. He migrated to the united States in 1985. He is the father of two sons. Aldwin love to expound the scriptures and especially loves to talk to the youth about the Lord. His experience with the homeless started in Boston, Massachusetts. Shortly after he relocated to Kissimmee Florida, he became co-director of Hope for Destiny at New Destiny Christian Center. While at New Destiny he also received certification for Prison Fellowship and would visit the prisons with the prison ministry team. He was a Volunteer Assistant with the Osceola Court Juvenile Delinquents. He received Certification of Achievements from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Aldwin is an Ordained Minister who loves the Lord and desires to serve others. Doreen and Aldwin truly feel that they are their brother’s keeper because they serve the God of another chance.