Legislation filed at the capitol this week would create a dedicated funding source to deal with homelessness in Florida. The Sunshine State has the third-highest population of homeless people in the county, many of them children. Estimates are that about 45,000 Floridians lack a permanent roof over their heads.
The bills would create what are known as “challenge grants,” money from the state that would match the funding of local homeless programs. Bill sponsor Jack Latvala says dedicated funding is needed for programs like job training and drug treatment that give people a path away from homelessness, rather than just paying for shelter beds."We’re trying to bring some cohesiveness to the local programs that include job placement and educational and mental health services", Latvala said.
The state grants haven’t been in the budget since the Great Recession.
Homeless advocates say when funding was cut from the state budget, it happened at the exact same time many Floridians were losing their jobs and becoming homeless. They say this has made Florida’s homeless problem worse.