SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — The Seminole County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to support a plan by the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness to create low-barrier shelters, which have fewer requirements for people to stay. 

What You Need To Know

  • The move comes after recently released data shows a 61% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in the county

  • As for what the next steps are, that’s still uncertain

The move comes after recent data shows a 61% increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness in the county.

According to a recent point-in-time count by the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, 439 people experienced homelessness during its annual count this past January, compared to 274 from 2023.

HSN says it’s a rising trend since 2021.

The Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida, Seminole County’s only homeless-emergency shelter, is working to combat that rising trend.

At the shelter, they provide people with three meals a day and necessary hygiene items.

“We provide all of their linen, their sheets, their towels, shampoo, everything that they need while they’re here. We want to remove the barriers, we want them to focus solely on their individual case plans and that’s always looking for permanent housing in our communities,” Chris Ham, executive director for the Rescue Outreach Mission of Central Florida said.  

So far this year, Ham said they’ve helped over 100 people transition into permanent housing. 

The organization is also making sure no one gets left behind, which is a top priority.

That’s a message HSN of Central Florida agrees with following Seminole County’s support for the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness’s resolution on low-barrier shelters.

“The resolution is simply saying we’re not going to go for encampments if we have the ability to create anything new. We’re going to put our support behind low barrier shelters or other sleeping accommodations,” Martha Are, CEO of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida said. 

After all, Are says work needs to be done now to help those in need. 

“When a community has more people coming into it but it’s not developing housing, not getting transportation and schools to keep up with that growth, those are the communities that see increase numbers of people experiencing homelessness,” Are said. 

Another challenge is funding. Ham says in order for them to keep their doors open, they need support now more than ever. 

Next steps on low-barrier shelters have not been released yet.