Homeless

The Point-in-Time Count is done annually and tied to federal funding.

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday supported legislation that seeks to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places such as streets, sidewalks and parks, as a Senate committee moved forward with the proposal.“I think what we're envisioning is providing some support for counties for additional sheltering, providing some financial support for both substance abuse (programs) and mental health,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Miami Beach, as he stood behind a podium that said: “Don't Allow Florida to become San Francisco.”

Thousands of outreach workers fan out each January in search of the homeless. The situation is such, officials said, that the resulting numbers will not be positive.

A Senate committee Monday backed a proposal that would prevent counties and cities from allowing people to sleep or camp on public property without permits.Bill sponsor Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, called his proposal (SB 1530) a way to address a mental-health crisis in the state and to assist the “chronically homeless.”

This annual Point-in-Time survey is meant to give social service groups a better understanding of those experiencing homelessness.

A community-wide survey to gather information on what Southwest Floridians found to be the most pressing need identified affordable housing and homelessness as the top concerns.

Volunteers as well as those from homeless and veteran’s groups fanned out across Lee County in January counting 820 people who do not have a permanent place to call home. That figure is up from 560 people experiencing homelessness last year.

Lee County commissioners have approved a Continuum of Care grant to fight homelessness.The more than $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be distributed in various ways.

Lee County has begun a gentle push to help Hurricane Ian victims leave a tent city near Fort Myers Beach. Some of the people are starting their fifth month living under a bridge on the approach to the hurricane-devastated island.

The 26th Annual Candlelight Vigil for the Homeless was held December 21, 2022, on the steps of the Lee County Courthouse. The Lee County Homeless Coalition gathered with the community to remember those who have died while living on the streets or in the shelters of Lee county during the past year and asking to remember those who suffer in the community and face homelessness in Lee County.