Homelessness Counts Rise and Fall: What’s Happening in Your Area?

Volusia County, Florida, USA - On July 9, 2025, the annual Point-In-Time Count results have shown a mixed bag for communities in Florida’s Volusia, Flagler, and Polk counties. While Polk County faces a disturbing trend with a more than 7% increase in individuals experiencing homelessness, Volusia and Flagler Counties reported a slight decrease in their figures. These statistics underscore the ongoing struggle with homelessness in these regions.

Polk County reported 804 individuals experiencing homelessness, rising from the previous year. Bridget Engleman, Executive Director of the Homeless Coalition of Polk County, pointed to factors like the lack of affordable housing, job loss, and economic instability following the pandemic as primary drivers for this increase. Moreover, the coalition expanded outreach efforts to remote areas, which contributed to the higher count. Looking ahead, there are plans to locate individuals in illegal encampments in light of Florida’s new camping ban, a move aimed not just at keeping people safe but also ensuring that the count reflects reality more accurately.

Mixed Results Across Counties

In contrast, Volusia and Flagler counties saw a decrease in their numbers, reporting a total of 1,083 individuals experiencing homelessness—a drop of nearly 7% compared to the previous year. Yet, Savannah Jane Griffin, Executive Director at the Neighborhood Center of West Volusia, raised an important point about the count’s accuracy. The challenges posed by cold weather facts may have affected true numbers, potentially masking the real scale of homelessness in the area. What are the uncounted individuals facing out there?

These fluctuating numbers mirror broader trends as highlighted in the 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report released by HUD in December 2024. This report indicated that over 770,000 individuals experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2024, marking an 18% increase from 2023. Notably, homelessness among veterans saw a drop, reaching the lowest number on record.

National Challenges and Local Impact

As reported on End Homelessness, the crisis is complex, with significant variations across different groups. Family homelessness has surged by 39% from 2023 to 2024, a dramatic rise that reflects the realities many families face, including those affected by migration and domestic violence. With specific vulnerabilities often linked to age, race, and other factors, understanding these nuances is crucial for effective solutions.

• The total count of individuals entering emergency shelters for the first time has risen by over 23% since 2019.
• A staggering 256,610 people were unsheltered in 2023, constituting nearly 40% of the homeless population.
• Family homelessness increased by 15.5% from 2022 to 2023, reversing previous declines.

Despite stepping up efforts to provide temporary and permanent housing solutions, there is still a shortage of resources. The national homelessness response added 30,925 temporary shelter beds in the last year, yet the need for more affordable housing remains pressing.

In the end, it’s clear: addressing the issues of homelessness requires not just accurate counts but also strategic action and a collective commitment to providing stable housing and supportive services. With high rents and low income, the situation continues to be a concern, pointing to the pressing need for local and federal attention.

As community members, we must ask ourselves: What role will we play in this ongoing challenge? There’s something to be said for solidarity and proactive engagement in finding solutions for our vulnerable neighbors.