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The Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida's plan for expansion got one step closer to a reality following Monday's Orlando city council meeting.

The city of Orlando passed the first reading on an ordinance to consolidate seven properties for plans to modernize the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida campus.

Part of the plans include a six-story, 92,000-square-foot facility on campus.

The mayor says it's about better serving the community's women and children.

"And it's important because the coalition, like all of our shelters, are often at capacity, resulting in women and children occasionally being turned away," Mayor Buddy Dyer said.

Trinette Nation is the director of development for the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida.

"Essentially, we're taking the seven parcels that the coalition currently has on our campus, and we're just turning it to one parcel; that way, when we move forward with permitting, it's just easier," Nation said.

The plans, in these initial renderings, are to build a new six-story facility at the corner of Ossie and Parramore next to the current men's service center.

The new facility would provide shelter for up to 350 women and children, an increase from the 240 the coalition serves today.

"This is really an exciting time for the coalition," Nation told WESH 2. "We're taking a building that's over 70 years old and then retrofitted into a short-term shelter and it's actually going to help us provide more beds and even more services."

There are plans for a new health clinic in the building, so there will be counseling, medical assistance, and dental care services.

"Our homeless population is aging, and when you struggle with homelessness, and you are unsheltered, your health is typically not the first thing that comes to mind. When you have children, typically not top of mind," Nation said.

The cost for the renovations is just under $60 million with support from a variety of funding sources, the city, the county, grants, and private donations.

The plan still must go through a second reading, which is in about a couple of weeks.

It’s hoped the renovations will be completed in the next two to four years.