ORLANDO, Fla. — The Homeless Services Network of Central Florida held a press conference Wednesday after data was released on the increase in homelessness.

Officials say as of late January, there were 1,682 people living in shelters, and 1,201 people who were unsheltered — living in areas like the woods or under overpasses.

What You Need To Know

  • In 2024, the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida says their Point-In-Time-Count showed an increased in unsheltered people, growing from 587 to 1,201 

  • In total, across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties, the number of people in shelters remained about the same at 1,682

  • CEO Martha Are says lack of affordable housing plays a major role 

“It is a raging river of people who are asking for help,” said Martha Are, CEO of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida.

In January, officials conducted what’s called a “Point-In-Time Count,” where volunteers worked to get a rough head count of the number of people homeless in Central Florida.

In total, across Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties, the number of people in shelters remained about the same. In 2023, that number was 1,671 people. In 2024, it rose to 1,683.

However, data shows a major difference in the number of people who are unsheltered, meaning they are not in a shelter or hotel, but rather live in places like the woods or an overpass. In 2024, the number increased 105% since the year before, growing from 587 to 1,201.

Are says the lack of affordable housing plays a key role.

“Our challenge is that as quickly as we move people into housing, more people are becoming homeless. And that is because of our housing market,” said Are.

Meanwhile, other organizations across Central Florida are working to address other contributors to homelessness.

IDignity was just awarded $2.25 million from Orange County on Tuesday. The organization works to help people who are homeless get much-needed documentation like an I.D. or birth certificate.

“We had a woman who could not get, claim, her husband’s body from the morgue because she didn’t have ID,” said Anne Taylor, IDignity Director of Philanthropy.

Not having an I.D. can have major effects on a person’s day-to-day life, Taylor says. Most importantly, it can prevent someone from getting an apartment.

It’s very common for IDs or other documentation to be stolen from people living on the street, and Taylor says it’s a major factor as to why some people who are homeless no longer have theirs.

IDignity works with a team of volunteers and lawyers to help track down medical and hospital records, which can later be sent to the state in a request for a birth certificate.

“We do a lot of background work to uphold the integrity. We don’t just take the client’s word for it,” said Taylor.

IDignity currently assists people in a parking lot during drop-in hours, but are working towards building their own offices so they can assist people out of the elements. The $2.25 million received from Orange County will go towards that project.