Alachua County Sees Increase in Homeless Population
The number of homeless people in Alachua County shot up almost 15 percent from last year.
That's according to preliminary numbers released by Alachua County's Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry.
The report shows a count of more than 2,000 homeless peole compared with 816 last year.
There are slight decreases in homeless people who are sheltered as well as the number of children reported homeless by the school board.
However, the report shows a jump of more than 33 percent of homeless people who do not have shelter.
| Summary of Count | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 |
| Shelter Count | 541 | 571 | 365 | 336 | 352 | 278 | 330 |
| Unsheltered Count | 1,235 | 816 | 672 | 740 | 616 | 395 | 540 |
| Street Count | (1,107) | (658) | (575) | (626) | (465) | (325) | (446) |
| Jail Count | (117) | (129) | (72) | (80) | (115) | (51) | (5) |
|
Hospital Count |
(11) | (29) | (25) | (34) | (36) | (19) | (44) |
| School Board Count | 316 | 394 | 234 | 518 | 397 | 279 | 321 |
| Total | 2,092 | 1,781 | 1,071 | 1,594 | 1,365 | 952 | 1,191 |
Staffers say the increase reflects more economic hardships as well as decreasing support for homeless prevention programs.
The Point-in-Time survey -- an annual count of the area's homeless population -- was completed last month.
A full report will be released May 31.
