DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.,None — Volusia County leaders say a lack of space at shelters is pushing the homeless to seek other means of shelter. And while advocates say they're trying to come up with solutions quickly, WFTV's Blaine Tolison learned some homeless are turning to living on local islands instead.
The Intracoastal Waterway is filled with miles of estuaries and mangroves. And recently, a tip led WFTV there in search of something almost unbelievable: islands where the homeless are going for shelter.
But to find such a place, one has to navigate shallow channels and sandbars by boat. And after some time searching, you'll set foot on a trash-covered island.
On one island, WFTV found empty food cans, clothing and even a tent on the ground. It's all sorts of evidence that somebody may have been living there.
Advocates for the homeless said transients may have set up camp there because they have no place else to go.
"I don't blame them, but it's not necessarily wonderful for the cities that they're in, but it's out of necessity." advocate for the homeless Sheila McKay said.
In Daytona Beach, which has the most homeless, police arrested 170 people this year for sleeping in public, compared to 140 last year.
"Shelter is, right now, the immediate need. We need safe shelter for those who are on the streets," McKay said.
Experts said there are 3,000 homeless in Volusia County and only a few hundred beds in area shelters, which leaders say is a problem that needs attention.
"To cure homelessness is to have a home. I mean, it's to have a place to go, but you can't just say, 'Everyone gets a free house,'" city councilman Josh Wagner said.
One solution is a proposed $34 million homeless community that would provide shelter for nearly 2,000 people. Although expensive, some say it's the best hope for a problem that's only getting worse.
"We need to have a continuum of care for them at a place that is always going to be available," McKay said.
Next month, county leaders will attend a forum on homelessness hosted by Stetson University.
There, homeless advocates say they hope to discuss options for increasing the number of area shelters.