The 2018 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count found 2,053 homeless men, women, and children on a single night in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. The count includes anyone staying in a homeless shelter, as well as those sleeping in the woods, in their cars or on the streets. However, this count does not include those who were not found on the night of the count, doubled up with relatives/friends or living in a motel until their money runs out.

According to Orange County Public Schools' figures, nearly 9,700 students experienced homeless this past academic year. Of that number, 7,415 homeless students were sharing housing, 1,852 students were living in hotels, 289 were living in shelters, and 134 were sleeping in cars or parks.

Loss of income, low wages or unemployment: Any disruption for low-income families – unexpected illness and medical expenses, unemployment, divorce, loss of transportation, etc. – can create a financial crisis that results in loss of housing.

Lack of affordable housing: The average rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Orlando requires an hourly wage of over $21.08 – putting it out of reach for many working poor. A couple who are both employed full-time at minimum wage ($8.25 per hour) can face significant hardship, preventing them from meeting their other basic needs, such as nutrition and health care, or saving for their future. (Source)

Domestic violence: Victims of domestic violence flee their homes, sometimes with only the clothes on their backs. Nationally, approximately 50% of all women who are homeless report that domestic violence was the immediate cause of their homelessness. (Source)

Substance abuse or mental illness: A common stereotype of the homeless population is that they are all alcoholics or drug abusers. The truth is that a high percentage of homeless people do struggle with substance abuse — but it is both a cause and a result of homelessness, often arising after people lose their housing. For many homeless individuals, substance abuse co-occurs with mental illness as a way to self-medicate.

Aging out of foster care: Youths aging out of foster care are at high risk for becoming homeless during the transition to adulthood. Compared to other youth in the United States, kids who age out of foster care are more likely to not have completed high school or received a GED, they often suffer from mental health problems, many are unemployed and live in poverty, and nearly 40% become homeless. (Source)

The effects of homelessness on men, women, and children are vast. Homeless individuals may experience an increased risk of many physical and mental issues, such as:

• Poor physical health
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Sleep deprivation
• Mental Illness
• Physical and sexual assault
• Drug dependency
• Premature death
• Loss of self-value
• Increased chance of entering the criminal justice system
• Development of behavioral problems

According to the Economic Impact Report released by the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, the average cost per day for a chronically homeless individual living on the streets, including incarceration and hospital stays, is $84.93 per day — over $30,000 per year.

However, $26.59 per day (FYE 2018) is the cost of an individual staying at the Coalition while awaiting housing. This adds up to just over $9,700 per year.