Homelessness

Almost half of all callers, or 370 people, were seeking rental assistance. Another quarter of callers, or 214 people, called for help finding an affordable rental unit or home to purchase.

The number of seniors who have experienced homelessness jumped nearly 40 percent since 2018 and the number of families facing homelessness increased by 21 percent since 2020, the survey found.

Community leaders at a forum in Tampa this week said the affordable housing crisis is making it harder for them to help people experiencing homelessness. And they expect the number of people in need to grow.

The board held a special meeting Tuesday on homelessness and workforce housing.

The site will eventually house up to 300 people — for as long as they need to stay.

Business owners and community members complain that the homeless and panhandlers are harassing visitors downtown.

The end of tenant protections on July 31 has raised concerns that thousands of Florida residents will be unable to afford their monthly rent and face eviction. In the greater Tampa Bay region, median rents have surged by more than 16%.

A community health center is now immunizing the local homeless population. But vaccination logistics, already complex, are compounded by the additional barriers in communication and transportation.

St. Vincent De Paul is one of 42 organizations providing services to homeless families in 24 states. Together, they will receive $105.9 million in funding to help provide food, shelter and support to young families across the country.

Osceola County has been particularly hard-hit by the recession and pandemic, leading the state with a 10.4 percent unemployment rate.

On any given night, about 28,000 people are homeless in Florida. In Osceola County, there are no homeless shelters. For some people the only option is to live in a motel that has no running water or electricity.

The VA sanctioned encampment provides basic services to homeless veterans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It's drawn mixed reactions from homeless advocates.