Program Success 17 May 2016
While our economy in Florida , as throughout the nation , has continued to rebound from the recent recession , and unemployment rates have dropped , there are still many families with extremely low incomes who live on the verge of homelessness every day . While the fundamental need is for a place to live , there are a many associated issues that may lead to homelessness or threat of homelessness , including : lack of employment ( and job skills ), job loss or other financial struggles or crisis , relocation , medical emergencies , natural disasters , disabilities , and issues related to mental health and substance abuse . To fully understand homelessness issues requires addressing and considering all of these factors as well as the barriers that keep individuals and families from achieving stable , adequate and affordable housing .
Front Cover Feature Gina N . Creighton The Rescue Outreach Mission End Homelessness Sanford , Florida May 2016
Despite reductions in homelessness in Florida thanks to the efforts of the public and private sector partners -- especially among homeless veterans -- local communities counted 35,964 individuals either living in emergency shelters or on the street throughout Florida in January 2015 . On that day and night , Seminole County counted 344 persons who were living on the street or in an emergency shelter ; there were 1,396 such individuals during the same time period in neighboring Orange County . ( All statistics referenced released in June 2015 by Florida ’ s Department of Children and Families Council on Homelessness – “ Point in Time ” count . Please note – The results of the “ Point in Time ” count conducted in January 2016 have not yet been released ).
Program Success 17 May 2016