Florida’s Homeless

The state of Florida is faced with a serious crisis in which there is no easy solution. The state is currently failing to provide adequate shelter and affordable housing for its rapidly increasing homeless population.

According to the Department of Children and Families' most recent Florida Annual Report on Homeless Conditions in Florida, approximately 67,600 people are homeless on the streets of Florida on any given night. The same report reveals that there are 228 shelters throughout Florida that have a total of 8,561 available beds for homeless people, and an additional 11,122 beds are provided by transitional housing facilities. This means that the state of Florida is currently able to serve less than 30 percent of its homeless on a temporary basis. Permanent housing opportunities are even harder to come by. 

Florida’s homeless population includes parents, children, elderly people, veterans and people who suffer from drug, alcohol and mental health problems.
According to a recent article in the Christian Science Monitor, at the economic boom at the end of the 1990’s made many politicians and organizations hopeful that the end of homelessness in America was near. But with the rapid change in the economy for the worse, national leaders are instead predicting a dramatic rise in homelessness, which may be similar to the crisis seen at the end of the 1980’s. 
Things may be even worse now than in the 1980’s, as statistics show that a larger percent of the homeless are families with children. While the state of Florida continues to add homeless programs and additional funding, the demand for shelter and homeless-prevention services continues to increase. 
The National Coalition for the Homeless cites two major trends that are responsible for the rapid rise in homelessness over the past 15-20 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. In the United States, a serious lack of affordable housing and the inadequacy of housing assistance programs have made a major contribution to the current housing crisis and the homelessness problem. 
In addition, Housing and Welfare Reform authors report that that in today’s economy, "Families receiving TANF assistance or working at low-wage jobs are unlikely to be able to rent housing on their own without paying a significant portion of their incomes.” 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) operates three major federally-funded programs that provide housing assistance to low-income families: public housing, Section 8 certificates and vouchers, and Section 8 project-based programs. Some states also run small programs providing housing assistance. 

Since housing assistance is not an entitlement, there are many more eligible families than families provided assistance, and waiting lists for housing assistance are very long in many areas. Census data indicate that there are 5.3 million unassisted families with "worst case housing needs"; these are families that live in substandard housing or pay over half their income in rent.

Data from the 1995 American Housing Survey indicate that about half of working poor families with children that receive no housing subsidies pay at least half of their income for rent. A mother with two children who works full-time year round at $6 per hour would have to pay over half of her income to rent a two-bedroom apartment at the national median HUD-determined "fair market rent" for metropolitan areas. 

Such high housing costs leave low-income families attempting to move into the workforce with little money for the necessities that often accompany employment, such as additional clothing and food costs, child care, and transportation to and from work."

Data from the Florida Department of Community Affairs reveals Florida has been a popular place for those seeking a more favorable environment for many decades. With its mild winters and excellent climate, the state has grown to be the nation’s fourth most populous state. This growth has created some problems for Florida and in the 1980’s; the state saw a huge rise in its homeless population. 

In the 1980’s, the state of Florida responded to the growing homeless situation by establishing the Florida Task Force on the Homeless. The task force worked with the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services to recommend a statewide network of locally based homeless coalitions to organize assistance efforts for the homeless. The 1987 Florida legislature reviewed these recommendations and funded a statewide network of community-based homeless coalitions in 1988. 

By the end of the 1990’s, there were 20 homeless coalitions throughout the state, mostly in the urban areas, where the problem was greatest. These coalitions have made significant progress in promoting public awareness, coordinating resources and providing assistance for the homeless.
Since the 1980’s when homelessness emerged as a social issue, numerous state and national studies have been conducted to determine the extent and nature of homelessness. In 1989, Barry University of Miami conducted a study of homeless conditions in South Florida, and later updated it in 1991. The study originally revealed that there were 9,738 homeless people in South Florida. The results of the 1991 survey showed that that number increased by 15 percent every year.

A 1994 study of homeless conditions performed by the Congressional Budget Office revealed that there were 39,500 homeless people in Florida, which was slightly lower than the estimates reported by the Florida homeless coalitions. However, this study did not take into account the migration and immigration factors of those who came to Florida in pursuit of a warmer climate and economic opportunities.

The Barry University study, the estimates of the Florida homeless coalitions and the Congressional Budget findings were all taken into account in the state of Florida’s 1995-2000 Consolidated Plan, which revealed that there were 46,000 homeless people in Florida on any given day.

Since then, Florida has made some progress in identifying and addressing the needs of the homeless population. 
However, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development estimates that there could be at least three times the amount of homeless people than those known to the state and coalition, as the “hidden homeless” are often hard to find because of their lifestyles.

Families with children make up about 31 percent of Florida’s homeless population; single men make up about 50 percent; and single women comprise about 19 percent. About 25 percent of the homeless population in the state is children under the age of 18. New homeless, non-chronic populations that have been homeless for less than a year, make up about 68 percent of the homeless and long-term homeless account for 32 percent. The chronic homeless populations tend to have alcohol, drug abuse, mental illness and health problems.

Of the homeless population in Florida, approximately 70 percent are state residents, and 30 percent are from other states and countries. Nearly 40 percent of the homeless suffer from alcoholism or drug abuse problems and 24 percent are believed to be mentally ill. About 26 percent have both mental illness and substance abuse problems. 

The state of Florida estimates that nearly half of all homeless people that come to local agencies have health care needs, and about 8 percent of the homeless have AIDS or HIV. Seventeen percent have disabilities.
A whopping 43 percent of the homeless are employed, most of them either periodically or part-time, although they tend to have low-paying jobs with no benefits. More than 20 percent of the homeless are veterans and eight percent are elderly people.

Caucasians make up about 55 percent of the homeless population in Florida, African Americans constitute 34 percent and Hispanics make up 9 percent. 

The groups that are at most risks of homelessness are people living in poverty, single parents, the unemployed, the physically and mentally ill, substance abusers, domestic violence victims, runaways, veterans and the elderly.

Causes of Homelessness
According to the 1999 Homeless as a Regional Problem in Central Florida: Analysis and Recommendations report, there are four predominant causes of homelessness. 
In Florida, approximately 40 percent of the population is employed in the service industry. These low-paying service jobs often lack employment stability, pay only minimal wage and offer minimal benefits.
Throughout history, homeless rates increase as the population density of a region becomes more urbanized. As Florida’s urbanization increases and the rate of population density per square mile increases, the rate of homelessness will continue to increase.

Lack of affordable housing is one of the most common causes of homelessness. Florida has seen a significant decrease in low-income housing units because of urban renewal and inner-city neighborhood gentrification, as well as a lack of federal funding.

In addition, many of Florida’s homeless are suffering from mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems and illnesses. Many are runaways or victims of domestic violence. These humanistic factors are very important when determining the causes of Florida’s rapidly rising homelessness rates.
There are many other reasons people become homeless. Loss of employment, long-term illness, substance abuse, divorce, domestic violence, child abuse, institutional release and many, many more factors work to create situations where people cannot afford to pay their rent or house payments. Other factors that can cause or prolong homelessness can be attributed to defects in the system, such as lack of affordable housing, lack of space in treatment facilities for persons suffering from mental illness or substance abuse, or preventative services that could help people to remain in their homes. 

Resources
The last decade has brought homelessness to the forefront of social issues, and coalitions have been working toward getting more and more governmental support. As a result, several efforts have been made on federal, state and local levels to help Florida’s homeless population.

Federal
The U.S. Congress enacted the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act in 1987. This legislation authorized about 14 different federal programs to aid the homeless. These funds were made available to states, local governments and community agencies for many homeless assistance programs, including outreach, prevention, emergency shelter, transitional and supported housing, health care, alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation centers, mental health centers, educational facilities, job training and veteran reintegration. 

Since its enactment, Florida has received about $260 million in McKinney Act funds, which it has used for local efforts to help the homeless and at-risk homeless populations. Federal funds are generally dispersed through continuums of care adopted on the local level.

State
Homeless efforts made by the state typically fall into one of two categories: prevention and early intervention; and efforts to reduce and aid homeless conditions when they occur. The state spends millions of dollars annually on Medicaid, housing programs, public assistance, public health centers, education, family resources, rehabilitation programs, child support enforcement and juvenile justice. 

As a result of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), victims of non-disaster emergencies in Florida, including homelessness, will be able to receive help so that they will not become homeless or go hungry. EFSP has allocated $6.8 million in funds for the fiscal year 2002. Of this amount, $2.5 million will be given to agencies in Florida to feed and shelter the homeless.

 
A recent development that was funded by the state is the Department of Children and Families’ $5 million Temporary Housing Assistance for Homeless Families Programs, which provides temporary financial aid for housing and extensive case management services to homeless families in Florida. The funds that are generated to the homeless through this program are used to pay first month’s rent, security deposits, utility deposits and other services needed to sustain housing. The funds can also be used to help homeless families obtain housing, employment and other support services that will help them become independent and self-sufficient.

The Department of Children and Families also provides a $2 million Emergency Financial Assistance for Housing Program that aims to help homeless families and at-risk families due to emergencies or disasters. 
The Department of Community Affairs has also been established by the state to generate new housing units for low and moderate income Florida residents. State funds are frequently used to leverage private sector involvement in affordable housing development. 

The state also provides funds to Florida’s local homeless coalitions, which are responsible for planning and coordinating homeless services, promoting public awareness, providing necessary information and referrals to assist the homeless, gather and prepare data for federal, state and local reports on homeless conditions, and seek federal, state and other resources to help the homeless. These coalitions obtain tens of millions of dollars in grants and resources for the homeless, which makes it a wise investment for the state.

The state has also implemented several initiatives designed to help prevent homelessness. The State Domestic Abuse Program is one of the most important homeless prevention initiatives in Florida. The shelters in this program provide support for women and children who are victims of domestic violence and abuse, which helps prevent them from turning to the streets.

There is also a statewide network of shelters and intervention services for juveniles, runaways, drug and alcohol abuser and the mentally ill. Many programs help to provide child-care, education and family support services for the at-risk population. These programs help to prevent and alleviate many of the socio-economic conditions that contribute directly to homelessness.

During the 2001 legislative session, several new initiatives were created to review and fund the needs of the homeless. The legislation aims to substantially increase funding and better coordinate the substantially lacking programs for the homeless. The new law was created from recommendations made by the Commission on the Homeless, to address solutions for the state’s homelessness problem and propose solutions for reducing homelessness and improving social services for the homeless. 

In addition to establishing an Office of Homelessness at the Department of Children and Families, the legislation also provides $9.8 million to implement the bill, including $4 million to fund the "Challenge Grants" for implementation of local homeless continuum of care plans; $625,000 to fund one position in each of the 25 homeless coalitions across the state with each coalition receiving up to $25,000; $198,000 to increase the annual appropriation in Department of Children and Families' homeless grant-in-aid program; and $5 million from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to the State Office on Homelessness to fund housing assistance grants to build transitional or permanent housing for the homeless. 

The state of Florida has created and implemented many programs and encouraged many businesses that directly benefit homeless people. The Temporary Financial Assistance for Homeless Families Program (TFAHF) provides short-term funds and promotes self-sufficiency for homeless people who are transitioning into permanent housing. The Emergency Financial Assistance for Housing Program (EFAHP) provides help to families who are at risk of becoming homeless. The Homeless Grant-in Aid (Direct Service) Program provides funding for community-based organizations that support homeless people. 

The state also provides funding for local homeless coalitions, domestic violence services and homeless and runaway youth programs. To date, the largest federal initiative grant in the state of Florida provides grants to school districts and other local education agencies to ensure that homeless children has equal access to a free public education. 

The Florida Housing Coalition, a nonprofit, statewide membership organization, was created to help improve the problem of homelessness by bringing together advocates and resources to provide safe and affordable housing for all Floridians. The coalition provides information and assistance on affordable housing issues and supports community-based partnerships in maximizing the availability and quality of affordable housing.

In 1998, the Coalition provided emergency shelter and services and transitional housing to approximately 3,500 people and served more than 288,000 hot meals.

Local
Local agencies, government and community organizations were involved with the homeless for years before federal and state governments stepped in. Local groups and governments fund and provider as much as 70 percent of all services and programs in Florida.

Local agencies mainly deal with the emergency needs of the homeless, such as shelter, food, clothing, housing assistance, employment services, alcohol, drug abuse and mental illness treatment, transportation and case management. These services are mostly confined to urban areas and medium-sized communities. For the most part, rural areas of Florida provide limited assistance to the homeless. 



Still Have Needs
Florida’s coalitions have identified the following as the most important needs of the state’s homeless population: employment and improved wages; affordable housing; emergency shelter and support services; food and clothing; case management; housing assistance; health care; drug and alcohol abuse services; mental health services; emergency financial aid; transportation; childcare; education; and improved resources in rural areas.

 
Despite the efforts of the government and community groups, the response to homelessness has not reached critical mass in many communities, and homeless people are suffering. Some communities experience difficulty in garnering support from local leadership, others struggle with re-inventing a wheel that has long since been invented, and others live in communities where the resources and infrastructure to address problems do not exist. 
The problem of homelessness is not going away; it is getting worse. While Florida’s leaders are working toward meeting the needs of the homeless, it has not yet been enough to solve the problem. Further initiatives need to enacted to continue the battle toward affordable and decent housing for all Floridians.

Bibliography
Florida Annual Report on Homeless Conditions in Florida, Deaprtment of Children and Families.
The Christian Science Monitor, July 2000.
National Coalition for the Homeless, http://nch.ari.net/facts.html. 
Said, Barbara; Daskal, Jennifer; Housing and Welfare Reform: Some Background Information; November, 1998.
Bush, Jeb; Seibert, Steven; Florida Dept. of Community Affairs; State of Florida Consolidated Plan, Fiscal Years 2000-2004.
Congressional Budget Office; http://www.cbo.gov.
United Way; Statistics of Homelessness; www.efsp.unitedway.org.
Jamshid A. Momeni ed.; Homelessness in the United States; Volume I: State Surveys; 1989.
Rado, Diane; St. Petersburg Times, Senate advances bill to help homeless; St. Petersburg Times; March 28, 2001.
Agencies In Florida Will Receive $2.5 Million To Feed, Shelter Homeless; Atlanta, GA; January 8, 2002.
Brown, Morgan; Census figures on S. Florida homeless are misleading; South Florida Sun Sentinelk; October, 2001.