Study shows 3,555 local kids became homeless

A recently released report found that at least 2,110 people experienced homelessness in Pinellas County on a single night in January.

However, the study, annually conducted by the Pinellas Continuum of Care, Homeless Leadership Alliance (HLA) and hundreds of volunteers, has limitations. While the subsequent report is comprehensive, the Point in Time count provides a momentary snapshot of area homelessness.

Pinellas County Schools provides data on students who experienced homelessness between August 2023 and January 2024. Daisy Corea, CEO of the HLA, called 3,555 local children going without stable housing in just five months “unacceptable.”

“I think that is a place where we see a gap within the system,” Corea said. “We need additional housing programs to help families.”

Daisy Corea, CEO of the Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas County.

Corea said those efforts are ongoing. While the number of children experiencing homelessness decreased by 213 year-over-year, that still represents roughly 4% of the student population.

In addition, PCS relies on self-reporting. Corea said many families are hesitant to share their living conditions, which include “doubling up,” “couch surfing” or sleeping in cars, due to child removal fears.

Most students experiencing homelessness (57%) were between the ages of 6 and 12. There is also a sizable racial disparity.

Nearly 50% of those children identified as Black or African American. However, that demographic comprises just 19% of the student population.

Corea noted that Pinellas has a diversity, equity and inclusion committee to help mitigate those statistics. “In the State of Florida, it gets really complicated when you have particular committees with those specific words,” she said.

“However, we continue looking at our data to ensure our system isn’t creating any barriers to a specific population,” Corea added. “If they are, how do we change that?”

She said the committee remains focused on eliminating those gaps and barriers. Efforts include education to help clients navigate available resources.

The count, survey and 144-page report are critical to understanding the local homeless population and meeting their needs. When applying for funding, the HLA submits the data to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Florida Department of Children and Families.

The county received $6.1 million to support vital community services and programs, like Permanent Supportive and Rapid Rehousing, in 2023. This year’s report found that 34% of people experiencing homelessness lacked shelter.

The 2,110 total represents a 334-person decrease from 2023’s count. That number does not include students and inmates who fail to meet HUD’s criteria.

Corea said the slight decrease among elderly homeless residents does not reflect the HLA’s monthly data. “It’s a one-time count, a one-day count.”

“So, it doesn’t necessarily capture all the information,” Corea said. “I did notice there was a slight increase in families, which, to me, was not completely surprising. I know, due to affordable housing, there has been an increase in families either losing their housing or becoming homeless for the first time.”

A homeless person occupies a bench in St. Petersburg’s Edge District. House Bill 1365 outlaws sleeping in public. Photo by Mark Parker.

Most of the county’s homeless residents live in St. Petersburg or Clearwater. A higher percentage of those who identify as Caucasian were unsheltered, and more African Americans stayed in shelters.

New legislation could impede the count. House Bill 1365 takes effect Oct. 1 and makes sleeping in public illegal. Most experts believe that will force homeless residents further into the shadows and out of sight.

“I believe that there is some of that,” Corea said. However, she noted a lived experience committee has also reported an increasing number of people seeking shelter.

Financial problems again top the self-reported reason for someone becoming homeless, followed by family issues, medical conditions, alcohol and drug use disorders, evictions and mental health challenges. The organizations found that St. Petersburg’s unsheltered population increased from 235 in 2023 to 316.

While well below the 517-person benchmark set in 2018, the city accounted for nearly half of the county’s homeless. Unincorporated Lealman saw the second-largest year-over-year increase, from 51 to 76.

While the problem is extraordinarily complex, Corea said additional funding and affordable housing are part of the solution. “And being able to provide clinical mental health services and substance use treatment to clients who really need it.”

“If we do have affordable housing but not wraparound services, a client won’t be able to self-sustain,” Corea added. “I believe that would definitely help with this situation.”

Incremental decreases in some categories, “even if it’s just one or two families,” provide hope. “The lives of those two families have changed,” Corea said.

Read the full report here.