Mid Florida Homless Coalition
Citrus County
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Sponsored by the Citrus County Homeless Continuum of Care,

Shared Services Alliance & State of Florida,

Department of Children and Families

  • There are at least 501 homeless people in Citrus County on any given day.
  • Citrus County is only able to meet about 10 percent of the emergency shelter and transitional housing needs of its homeless population.
  • 75% of homeless are local residents.
  • 38% of homeless are families.
  • 52% of homeless are male.
  • 48% of homeless are female.
  • 76% are children.
  • 16% have co-occuring substance abuse and mental health disorders.
  • Over one-third of all homeless people are employed in full or part time jobs.
  • Minimum wage workers must work over 80 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom unit.

 

HOMELESS CAUSES

The most critical predictor of homelessness is the proportion of the population employed in the service sector:  low-paying service jobs that lack employment stability and lack the payment of fringe benefits.  The service sector of Florida comprises about 40 percent of the state's economy.

The weighted "housing wage" in Florida is $12.00 an hour, meaning that on average a person has to earn nearly 2X the federal minimum wage to be able to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment.

Homeless rates increase when the population density of a county increases.A lack of affordable housing is one of the common causes of homelessness.  (Florida has the fifth largest shortfall of rental housing for the poorest households in the nation.)

Humanistic factors, i.e. mental health issues, drug and/or alcohol issues, domestic violence, separations, divorce, education and incarceration contribute to the problem of homelessness

HOW CAN YOU HELP

 

Volunteer at a local homeless shelter (The Path, The Sanctuary, CASA.)

 

Make a cash donation to a local homeless shelter or prevention program.

 

Donate needed items to a local homeless shelter (such as food, clothing or runing used automobiles.)

 

Provide transportation to a homeless person.

 

Let us come and speak at your group.

 

Contact Citrus County Homeless Continuum of Care at (352) 527-5381.

No one should be homeless in Florida!

Mid-Florida Homeless Coalition

P.O. Box 1527

Eustis, FL. 32727

The time is now.