Introduction
The issue of homelessness is prominent all across the country. However, it is vital to mention its detrimental impact on Florida as one of the three states with the highest number of unhoused individuals in the US. The challenge stems from the lack of income as more than 1,5 million Florida residents spend 30% of their monthly salaries on rent alone (Florida Coalition to End Homelessness, 2021). The issue has been highlighted across genders, ages, and ethnicities.
Namely, statistics show that men are more likely to experience housing insecurity in Pasco (62%), 12% of unhoused individuals are children under 18, and more than 84% are Caucasian (Pasco County Community Development, 2022). Community leaders such as Paula Baracaldo, the local director for support services, acknowledge the importance of tackling the barriers via extensive investment in assisting programs and affordable housing (ABC Action News, 2022). The Pasco County Coalition for the Homeless is one of the leading entities providing support and assistance for people with housing instability.
Pasco County Coalition for the Homeless precisely confronts several obstacles in its fight against the issue, which has become more acute in recent years. According to an ABC Action News story from 2022, the agency has several challenges, chief among them being a scarcity of facilities to house people experiencing homelessness (ABC Action News, 2022). This scarcity directly results from the pandemic (Malpezzi, 2022). Alongside the coalition, additional resources are available for unhoused individuals.
For example, Saint Leo University’s core values include excellence, respect, community, stewardship, and integrity. The University organizes community breakfasts and collaborates with agencies such as Empowering Pasco’s Veterans, which assists with home ownership measures (McCoy, 2020). The Florida branch of the National Association of Social Workers, whose values are social justice, service, and dignity, has similarly put effort toward minimizing the existing barriers via assistance for vulnerable populations (University Communications, 2023).
Additionally, the United Way of Central Florida tackles homelessness via financial, educational, and healthcare resources based on the core values of accountability, leadership, inclusivity, and voluntary work (United Way of North Central Florida, 2023). Needless to say, a collaboration between various agencies generates a more substantial result.
There are continuous attempts in Pasco County to address the issue of homelessness. County officials estimate that there are between 350 and 400 homeless residents, although some locals think the figure may be higher (Van Sant, 2023). The figures have changed dramatically over the last ten years, peaking at 860 in 2015 and falling to around 4,100 in 2011. (Van Sant, 2023). According to Van Sant (2023), the current population is spread out among more than 50 camps around the county. Despite being aware of the dynamic and erratic character of the county’s homeless population, these data and metrics show that Pasco County is actively looking for ways to house and help its homeless citizens.
Overview of Homelessness in Florida and Pasco County
Florida’s homelessness problem is severe and becoming worse, especially in Pasco County. A 2023 Spectrum Bay News 9 story states that Pasco County is dealing with increasing numbers of homeless people from various origins and ages (Van Sant, 2023). Families, single persons, veterans, and seniors are among the varied populations impacted by the issue, which reflects its pervasive character. Further insights into the severity of the situation are provided by a 2023 YouTube video by SOUTHERN LIFE, which explores Florida’s largest homeless camp in Pasco County.
The video depicts the deplorable living circumstances at the center, which are marked by improvised shelters and a dearth of essential facilities. It also draws attention to the difficulties that the locals confront, such as drug misuse and restricted access to other necessities like healthcare. This qualitative viewpoint highlights the human element of the homelessness epidemic by showcasing the hardships and resiliency faced by those living in such unstable circumstances (Carroll et al., 2023). When taken as a whole, these sources provide a thorough picture of Pasco County’s homelessness situation, highlighting the urgent need for efficient solutions to this expanding issue.
Causative Factors of Homelessness
Many different variables contribute to homelessness in Pasco County, Florida, but two major ones are the scarcity of affordable housing and economic hardships. According to Bhuiya (2021), the gap between housing expenses and income is the main factor contributing to homelessness. Due to Florida’s sharp rise in housing costs and stagnating income, many people and families cannot purchase housing (Kang & Jeon, 2021).
The homeless problem in Pasco County has been made worse by the post-pandemic environment. According to ABC Action News (2022), the COVID-19 epidemic caused unemployment and income reduction. A further consequence of the epidemic was increased real estate values and rents, further restricting access to cheap housing (Francke & Korevaar, 2021). The pandemic’s economic effects have compounded the already complex problem of housing instability.
Current Services and Efforts
A key player in tackling homelessness in the region is the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County. The ABC Action News article (2022) emphasizes that the entity’s primary goal is to assist needy individuals by offering them shelter and other resources. Despite obstacles, including space constraints and increasing real estate costs, the organization accommodates as many homeless people as possible. They provide more than just shelter; they also help with things like finding a job, accessing healthcare, and other necessities. In contrast, other Pasco County organizations, each with particular methods, also battle homelessness. For example, Empowering Pasco’s Veterans assists veterans who do not own or do not have the means to rent a house.
Furthermore, groups such as the United Way of Pasco County are experts at providing guidance and assistance to susceptible groups, such as families and veterans (Gould et al., 2020; United Way of Pasco County, 2021). The National Association of Social Workers is another state agency addressing the challenge via economic and educational involvement in the community. While all these organizations strive to reduce homelessness, the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County stands out for taking a complete strategy, including long-term issues like job and healthcare access and the more pressing requirements of food and shelter.
Challenges and Gaps in Current Services
Effective homelessness prevention still faces many obstacles and significant gaps in the field despite the efforts of several organizations, such as The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County. The brutal reality of life in the largest homeless camp in Pasco County is depicted in the SOUTHERN LIFE 2023 YouTube video, which also emphasizes how inadequate the present circumstances are, including the lack of facilities, substance abuse, and health issues (SOUTHERN LIFE, 2023). Although giving housing is essential, O’Regan et al. (2021) note that this is not a complete solution to homelessness. Many homeless people need various support services, such as job training and rehab (Miler et al., 2021). These are areas where the present services frequently fall short.
Goals and Objectives
The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County’s aggressive target of a 20 percent reduction in homelessness in a year is directly related to its strategic plan, which is detailed in the references. As per ABC Action News (2022), the tactics employed by the Coalition go beyond offering temporary housing; they comprise an array of assistance programs designed to tackle the underlying reasons behind homelessness. This includes support for finding a job, healthcare access, and other necessities for long-term stability and self-sufficiency (Hess et al., 2018).
It is critical to address the root causes of homelessness, which include unstable economies and a shortage of affordable properties (Carnemolla & Skinner, 2021). The agency’s strategy is consistent with this viewpoint as, in addition to providing emergency shelter, they also seek to provide people with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to make a long-term, sustainable transition from homelessness (Fowler et al., 2018). By emphasizing these all-inclusive programs, the Coalition is well-positioned to significantly contribute to the decline of Pasco County’s homeless population.
Conclusion
The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County is dedicated to tackling the complicated and diverse topic of homelessness in Pasco County, Florida. The Coalition has several challenges, including scarce resources and rising demand for housing and support services, as ABC Action News (2022) pointed out. The urgency is linked to the growing number of homeless people, according to Spectrum Bay News 9 (Van Sant, 2023), as well as the deplorable living conditions in camps (SOUTHERN LIFE, 2023).
Bhuiya (2021) highlights the necessity of adopting a comprehensive strategy. The organization’s goal to reduce homelessness by 20% within a year is ambitious yet achievable with its long-term plan. The agency’s efforts are crucial in alleviating the immediate plight of individuals and paving the way for sustainable solutions. The Coalition’s role in Pasco County is thus not only as a provider of essential services and a beacon of hope.
References
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