Count Being Taken Of Local Homeless

The Homeless Services Network is trying to get an accurate count of homeless people in Central Florida by interviewing them at shelters in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. Volunteers at the Daily Bread were interviewing the homeless Wednesday and they estimate the homeless population in Central Florida has grown 15 percent in the last year.

That would mean a 30 percent increase over the last two years, because in 2009 the area had 17 percent more homeless than in 2008.

The homeless at the Daily Bread were in line for a warm meal and that's why the Homeless Services Network is using that opportunity to count the homeless. When the agency did the survey in 2009, they counted nearly 4,000 homeless people in one day in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. They say that amounts to about 10,000 homeless people for all of 2009.

This year’s study is important because the agency anticipates even more new faces of homeless. Eyewitness News spoke with a husband and wife, who both lost their jobs in December, and now they're staying at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission with their four children.

“Anything can happen to anybody. I just thought when I left Michigan that this job that they told me was secure and I wouldn't be laid off or fired if I didn't do anything wrong. And then, as the funds got low, I was the first one to get cut,” said Latosha Respess, a homeless woman.

Some of the money to help the homeless in Central Florida comes from the federal government, which is why the Homeless Services Network is doing the annual survey.

The federal government requires it in order for some local agencies to get a set $6 million.

“There are many nights that we will put guys on the sofas, even on the floor,” said Vincent Hall, Orlando Rescue Mission.

Every bed at the Women and Children's shelter is taken. The men's shelter is full too. There is a stack of applications from women waiting to get their families in.

Also, there are no guarantees the federal government will increase that amount because of an increased need. Ninety-five percent of the federal money goes towards 45 programs and services around Central Florida.

Eyewitness News expects to get the results of the study in about a month.