Homelessness

The first round of federal assistance was announced Oct. 24 to provide outreach, emergency shelter, rapid rehousing and other assistance. However, Collier and Lee counties have yet to specify plans for their shares.

Dawning Family Services is receiving more calls from homeless families in Tampa. In March, Chemetria Munn was among them.

Residents at a tent shelter get health care they often struggle to access elsewhere. Students learn to adapt treatment when the ideal solution isn't feasible.

Residents living in tents at Tampa Hope don’t just get shelter. They get services like health care, job training and education to set them up for success outside the community.

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.