Homelessness

Figure 5: Cost Burden by Metropolitan Statistical Area

(Shimberg Center 2020a)

Homelessness

When a household’s rent or mortgage payments compete with other basic needs, such as food and healthcare, that family is at risk of homelessness. In the 2020 Point-in-Time (PIT) countsb, communities across Florida identified a total of 27,640 “literally homeless” people—those staying in shelters, on the street, or in other places not meant for human habitation. As Table 2 shows, Florida’s homeless population declined by 57% since 2007, although this drop masked a peak of 57,551 in 2010. During the same period, the United States PIT count of the homeless population experienced an almost uninterrupted, though slightly slower, decline and was 41% lower in 2019 than in 2007.

Florida has outperformed the nation in reducing homelessness among families in almost all demographic groups. Overall, the state’s progress in reducing literal homelessness is a testament to the “Housing First” model’s success and strong political support for homeless assistance programs. When broken out by race, it’s clear that some racial and ethnic groups experience homelessness at disprortionate rates. Almost 40% of people experiencing homelessness are Black despite making up only 16% of Florida's population.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) requires public school districts to identify children and youth who are homeless at any time during the academic year (including summer school). Children who are doubled-up or living in motels due to their family’s loss of housing or economic hardship are defined as “homeless” by ED and comprise most of the students identified as homeless. Unfortunately, this data suggests that family homelessness has increased both nationally and in Florida. Florida reported 40,967 homeless students in the 2008-2009 school year. That increased to 95,167 in the 2017-2018 year 24 – a net increase of 132%, indicating an increased need for affordable housing for low-income families.