ORLANDO, Fla. – Groups that take care of people experiencing homelessness will fan out next week to take a special annual “count” of the homeless population, and they need your help.
The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida organizes the annual Point-in-Time Count for Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. Over three days, Jan. 28-30, volunteers find people experiencing homelessness and ask them to take a survey.
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The annual survey helps in getting grants and setting policies for homeless services.
The agency, which coordinates with the various homeless shelters and services in the area, says it needs more volunteers to help take a thorough count. Last year, HSN had a record number of volunteers not affiliated with groups like Coalition for the Homeless. This year they’ve gotten fewer than 200 so far.
Last year, the Point-in-Time Count surveyed 2,776 homeless people in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties alone. It’s a number that has been steadily increasing since 2000.
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The Homeless Services Network says last year they saw an increase in veterans and unaccompanied youth from 2023.
The number of people who are unsheltered increased 86% from 2023 to 2024.
About 10% of the homeless households in the area are families with children.
It’s difficult to get a truly accurate count of the number of people experiencing homelessness. With the law that banned camping in public now in full effect, volunteers worry it will be harder to find people to count effectively.
The number one reason for the increase in unsheltered homelessness: a lack of affordable housing, coupled with rising rents and high eviction rates.
If you want to volunteer, you can go to the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida website to register.
The Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, which oversees programs in Lake and Sumter counties, will hold its PIT Count Jan. 28-Jan. 31 and is also looking for volunteers. Go to MidFloridaHomeless.org to register.
Meanwhile, the Homeless Coalition for Volusia and Flagler counties is conducting its PIT Count on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
Volunteers in Brevard County will start that PIT Count on Thursday.
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