Local Issues: Plan to end Homelessness in Orlando

About 50% of the Homeless over the year are Homeless Families, and the other 50% are homeless singles (individuals). At one point in time homeless families make up about 34% of the homeless population, and homeless singles about 66%. As the Central Florida commission is getting ready to release their plan to help end the homeless situation in Orlando, and Central Florida, those are some percentages they had to consider for their ten year plan according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. The National Alliance to End Homelessness has a very detailed ten year plan to ending homelessness that focuses on finding immediate permanent housing. They have some very interesting, yet very important studies in their ten year plan proposal. Most of the homeless families “become homeless because they are having a housing crisis. Their primary, immediate need is for housing.” Most families that wind up homeless often receive assistance with “clothing, transportation, and help getting public benefits. Only 20% of families report that they receive help finding housing.” (National Alliance to End Homelessness). The same is true for single homeless individuals, only about 7% of them receive help in finding housing. The National Alliance to End Homelessness has a very strong plan on helping individuals falling into homelessness to immediate permanent housing. The approximate 10% of the homeless population that spend most of their time in shelters, on the streets, hospitals, jails, and more use up to 50% of system services such as health care, shelters, welfare, etc. By helping all homeless individuals with housing, and having mid-way housing for families about to be evicted, will greatly reduce the number of homeless individuals and end homelessness.

With this study it is exciting to see the Central Florida Commission’s ten year plan to end homelessness which will be released on Feb 13th according to the Orlando Sentinel --> Full Article. The ten year plan proposed in Maryland focuses on building 120,000 housing units, and on training & education. Interestingly for those of you who have been keeping up may have noticed that Rock for Hunger’s plan to end homelessness focuses on housing, job training, and education (for adults and children). Our plan has no time limit such as ten years, because we just don’t have the resources yet, but our plan is to help as many individuals as possible, and as quickly as possible. When supporting an organization do some research into their plan of ending homelessness, and make sure that their services don’t drain the services available for new individuals in need every day.

Finally, for those of you who are looking to get involved in the community, you are more than welcome to come out to Tutors & Meals tomorrow, or check out the Food Sharing Pot Luck at Lake Eola in front of the Panera Bread with our friends from Home Sweet Homeless from 1pm to 4pm this Saturday. Keep an eye out for the Central Florida Commission $50 million a year plan next week Wednesday February 13th.