ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City Council is preparing to tackle a complicated problem Monday morning: unsheltered homelessness.

Central Florida's unsheltered homelessness population is on the rise, meaning more people are living on the streets, cars, or in parks.

According to the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, 75% more people are homeless now compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic began. The data for that uptick does not include people living with other families or staying long-term in motels or hotels.

The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida reports skyrocketing rental prices over the last few years are a driving factor.

“Those people did not change, the housing market has changed. And that’s why they’re outside, sleeping in places not meant for human habitation,” said Martha Are, Homeless Services Network of Central Florida's executive director. 

Orange County saw the largest uptick in homelessness based on new data covering Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. More than 56% of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness were counted in Orange County, despite Orange County having the largest concentration of homeless shelters, Homeless Services Network of Central Florida stated. 

A recent Zillow report found the Orlando-Sanford-Kissimmee metro area is the worst housing marking in the country for severely cost-burdened renters — those are the folks paying more than half their income on rent. 

“Not having enough money to get in a place, even though I get a check," said resident Tony Woodard, experiencing homelessness. "I don’t have $1,600, $1,700 a month, and that’s just rent.”

Spectrum News recently spoke with the lead researcher behind that Zillow report, he said the changes to the federal government's housing choice voucher program could help maximize benefits for more families.

But ultimately, a big part of the problem comes down to an affordable housing shortage.

“I think the long-term, more sustainable solution to the affordability challenges that we’re facing are going to come from building more affordable units," said Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow. "There’s a massive housing unit deficit in this country, huge shortages everywhere and that’s what’s causing prices and rents to remain so high, and so stubbornly high.”

Florida lawmakers recently passed the state's new Live Local Act to help speed up the development of affordable housing units in certain areas, but some local leaders are skeptical, saying that the new law likely won't help the people most in need.

The bill defines 'affordable housing' as housing designated for residents earning up to 120% of area median income. In Central Florida, for a family of four, that's about $90,000 a year.

The city's senior advisor on homelessness and social services will present an action plan for council members and Mayor Buddy Dyer during a workshop on May 15 at 10:30 a.m.