Homeless News

Homelessness in the U.S. reached a record high last year due to an increase in the number of unhoused Floridians.

According to the annual report shared by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), More than half of the Americans experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness are in four states including Florida.

HUD’s report also shows that the state had the second-highest rate of unsheltered homeless people after California.

The report is also working towards giving an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night to offer a snapshot to advocates, researchers, and policymakers.

Some advocates think that these point-in-time estimates can be misleading and may underestimate the number of homeless individuals. Last year, around 653,100 people experienced homelessness in the U.S.

Between 2022 and 2023, the homelessness has increased by 12%. HUD reported that the 2023 figure is the highest number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night since 2007.

Florida reported 15,482 unsheltered people or 6% national total of people living in places not meant for human habitation in the 2023 count. The state also witnessed an increase in families with children and veterans experiencing homelessness.

Around 60% of the Floridians experiencing chronic homelessness were reported not having shelter on the January 2023 night.

In the rural area near Lake Okeechobee, encompassing Hendry, Hardy, and Highlands counties, there was a notably high rate of unsheltered homelessness at 88% according to a point-in-time count. However, despite an increase of 17% in the state’s homelessness rate from 2022 to 2023, there has been a significant overall decrease of 30% in Florida’s homelessness rate since 2007.

The recent increase in Florida is due to the expiration of the pandemic-era social safety net programs such as income protection and eviction moratoriums. Consequently, Central Florida has communities that have reported increases in housing costs and evictions from 2022 to 2023.

Miami has struggled to house and support more than 200,000 people from other countries who arrived last year