While homelessness decreases, more kids lack stable housing

A recently released report found that 3,575 Pinellas County students lacked stable housing in the five months between August and January, a slight year-over-year increase. 

The number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, 1,863, represents a 12% decrease from 2024. However, the 2025 Point in Time count faced several limitations. 

Victoria Kelly, senior manager of advancement and strategy for the Homeless Leadership Alliance (HLA) of Pinellas, said an “incredible” 25% decline in unsheltered homelessness is likely due to several factors. Those include “enhanced and more widely available services and external forces like Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Florida’s anti-camping law and reduced volunteer capacity.” 

“As always, gaps across age and race stood out, as did the fact that nearly half of our unsheltered neighbors are experiencing chronic homelessness,” Kelly told the Catalyst. “It may also surprise people to learn that nearly one in four of our neighbors experiencing homelessness are kids younger than 18 or seniors aged 65 and older.” 

Annually conducted by the Pinellas Continuum of Care (CoC), HLA and hundreds of volunteers, the 141-page report provides a momentary snapshot of area homelessness. Pinellas County Schools provides student data. 

Kelly noted that overall, area homelessness has dropped by 33% since 2016. She called that a “testament to the sustained efforts of our community.” 

Not every demographic has a reason to celebrate. While just 11% of Pinellas residents are Black or African American, they account for 38% of the county’s homeless population and “a staggering 76% of families experiencing sheltered homelessness.” 

“That highlights both a systemic issue and a sincere and successful effort to address the needs of the Pinellas homeless community,” Kelly added. 

A heatmap highlighting the highest concentrations of homeless residents in Pinellas County. Image: Screengrab.

She said the HLA was encouraged to see the number of local children who experienced “literal homelessness” decrease slightly from 2024. Youth under 18 now comprise 16% of the sheltered and 2% of the unsheltered population, compared to 20% and 10%, respectively, last year. 

“That means there are over 100 fewer children without homes this year,” Kelly said. 

However, the number of students who experienced housing instability increased from 3,555 to 3,575 year-over-year. “It is clear our community must band together to support children and families in Pinellas,” Kelly said. 

She called the overall decrease in homelessness a “hopeful indicator of progress.” Kelly also noted the importance of considering the report’s nuances. 

While she believes outreach, data coordination and access to resources have improved, an unprecedented hurricane season impacted the count. Helene and Milton damaged nearly 30,000 homes in Pinellas, and the report states that displacement “likely affected local shelter needs and service capacity.”

For example, many residents received lodging vouchers through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Others stayed with family or friends or relocated. 

The hurricanes also affected survey planning and implementation. “Many municipal and nonprofit partners reported being unable to participate at their desired capacity due to competing disaster response responsibilities,” states the report. 

Florida’s ban on public sleeping took effect in October, and the presidential administration has ramped up immigration enforcement efforts. Kelly said many Point in Time volunteers “reported more people declining to participate in the survey than in years past, some specifically citing fear of being singled out by police or ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).” 

She said the CoC’s Lived Experience Advisory Committee recently released a pamphlet with resources and information to improve interactions between law enforcement and people experiencing homelessness. “The group sincerely hopes this helps every member of our community feel more comfortable and secure moving forward.” 

An overview of statistics from the 2025 Point in Time Count. Image: Screengrab.

The primary causes of homelessness remain virtually unchanged. Financial struggles and job losses (40%) still took the top spot, followed by medical issues (20%), familial problems (14%), eviction or foreclosure (10%) and, new for 2025, natural disasters (8%). 

While Kelly noted much work remains to end homelessness, she believes the latest report shows “clear” progress. Unsheltered homelessness among veterans has decreased by 52% since 2016, which mirrors the overall trend of more people “finding stability through shelter and housing programs rather than sleeping outside.” 

“We know what ends homelessness: Housing, healthcare, education, employment, access to good food and strong community support,” Kelly continued. “The efforts are paying off, and they show that when we work together, we can achieve great things.” 

She said concerned stakeholders can advocate for affordable housing, support prevention programs or donate to and volunteer for CoC member organizations. Policymakers can champion demonstrably successful programs. 

The CoC and HLA will submit the data to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) when applying for funding. Kathleen Beckman, chair of the CoC’s board, noted the report also “deepens our understanding of the breadth and complexity of homelessness in Pinellas and will help guide our planning, advocacy and outreach strategies.” 

“It’s important to remember that these numbers are more than statistics,” Beckman said in a prepared statement. “The data in this report represents real people in our community – our neighbors in need of housing and support.” 

To view the Point in Time report, visit the website here.