ORLANDO, Fla. – Homeless services organizations are struggling to keep up with the rising number of people living in Orlando’s downtown core without shelter.
“It’s a hard life,” Alicia said. “It’s hard being that old.”
Alicia did not want to give her last name, but she said she recently slept in the grass in Lake Eola Park right next to her bags that contain everything she owns.
“God came to me and said that me and every member of my family — we would all go to live in heaven, and I’ve been trying to get to Heaven ever since,” she told News 6.
She said that was 12 years ago.
“I’m really sick with diabetes, so I take break every once in a while, but for the last seven years, I’ve been homeless,” she said.
The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida just conducted its annual Point In Time count of people living without shelter.
In Orange County, the number increased 105% compared to 2023. More than half of those counted were over the age of 65.
“You know, downtown is certainly where most of the services are,” said HSN CEO Martha Are. “It’s where the big buildings are, and where people believe they can find the most help frequently.”
Are said there are three major reasons for the rising number of homeless:
- A lack of affordable housing
- Rising rental prices
- Landlords evicting more people when they cannot afford rent
She said these reasons are unfairly hitting those who are over the age of 65.
“If we have more people becoming homeless, and we do not have sleeping accommodations for them, then more people will be experiencing unsheltered homelessness,” Are said. “That trend is not going to stop until we create more housing opportunities and create more sleeping capacity. We have to create more housing across the entire region in every corner of the region.”
Finding the money to do all of that is an issue. Finding a neighborhood that will make room for these shelters is another issue.
Are said they are working on both, but she admitted there is no short-term, silver bullet solution.
She said a solution will take time, and it will take the community’s help to make it happen.
See how Tampa helps solve the issue with city-funded tent cities:
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