ORLANDO, Fla. – Over the next three days, volunteers with the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida will be going out to count how many people are experiencing homelessness across the region.
“It’s done in a specific time in January. Our community of care comprises of the three counties, Orange, Seminole, Osceola, by trying to count the homeless as accurate as we can,” explained Dewey Wooden with Health Care Center For The Homeless.
The count helps local governments and groups know who makes up the population of homeless people in the region and what services are needed.
According to last year’s count, a total of 2,258 people were counted as part of the homeless population. Some 454 were people with disabilities who had lived in shelters or on the streets. Some 189 were veterans.
Families with children made up 35.12% of the population in the count — 793 of the people counted.
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Wooden said there’s a high possibility that this year’s count will show higher numbers.
“Since COVID hit and a lot of the rental housing crisis that I’m sure everyone is familiar with, we have seen an increase in homelessness in our region as well as other regions in the United States,” Wooden said.
The count also comes after the Orlando City Council passed a new ordinance this month, allowing law enforcement to arrest or fine anyone intentionally blocking public sidewalks.
Wooden also explained one of the solutions to homelessness is affordable housing.
“Here in Central Florida, we have one of the most difficult regions in terms of affordability of housing and rental rates and we can help provide services to help people survive on the streets but ultimately the solution is enough housing and affordable housing,” Wooden said.
The Point-in-Time count is taking place in Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties from Jan. 23-25. To learn more, and to help volunteer, visit the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida website.
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