SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. -- Seminole County's homeless rate has jumped ten percent in a year. Many are defying the stereotype of the homeless man, and in fact, are entire families.

A cramped space is hardly enough kitchen for a family of five but Catherine Matlock is making it work. She, her husband, and their three kids have been living out of motels for about two months after Mr. Matlock lost his job and the family fell behind on its mortgage.

"We've been married for a really long time and we've never been without a job or in this situation or anything," said Catherine.

The Homeless Services Network has found a growing number of people living just on the brink of homelessness in this year's rough economy. The Matlocks demonstrate what can happen when something slips.

"Any disruption, whether it's two weeks layoff, disruption in childcare or a car breaking down, is putting them at risk of homelessness," said Cathy Jackson of the Homeless Services Network.

That problem has hit Seminole County hard where there are now nearly 600 people without permanent housing on any given day. Experts say the homelessness problem is likely to get worse before it gets better.

Recently, the number of people asking for help paying basic expenses such as rent and utilities has skyrocketed to about 5,000 a month.

"That's a leading indicator that you're gonna have a lot of folks that are gonna be on the street," said Jackson.

Orange County has more homeless people than anywhere else in Central Florida with 4,910. Seminole has 1,863 and Osceola 1,693.