Census reveals increase of homeless people in Manatee, Sarasota

MANATEE -- Homelessness in Manatee and Sarasota counties increased from 2015 to 2016, according to the 24-hour "Point-in-Time" survey released Friday by the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness.

According to the 2016 community report based on a count conducted the night of Jan. 25, there were 497 homeless people counted in Manatee and 971 in Sarasota. The overall number of homeless grew by 207, with 201 more people in Manatee County and 69 more in Sarasota County.

Of the people counted, the 29-page report states 66 percent were in Sarasota County and 34 percent were in Manatee County.

More than 170 volunteers helped carry out this year's count, which coincides with the national annual census conducted across the United States.

"I think that the homelessness in our community, as well as in the country, is partly a reflection of the economy where the recovery has allowed housing prices to rise but local wages have not increased to keep up with the cost of living," said Leslie Loveless, executive director of Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness. "In addition, the nation as a whole and in Florida in particular, is at a historical low for funding for mental health care and substance abuse, which leads those more vulnerable to become homeless more often."

According to the report, an undercount in Manatee County in 2015 was correct

ed this year with a better outreach plan.

"Manatee County made a special effort since they had such a poor turnout last year. Turning Points gets a lot of credit for recruiting more volunteers for us," said Loveless in reference to the Bradenton-based agency that helps curb homelessness.

A message left Friday for Adell Erozer, executive director of Turning Points, was not immediately returned.

After the survey was completed, Loveless and Erozer have said affordable housing is the best solution to eradicating homelessness.

"We can't seem to find landlords in Manatee County willing to rent to a single mom or a family for $800 a month, which is about what they can afford," Erozer said at the time. "A single mom can't afford $1,200 a month, which is what apartments are going for in Manatee County. It's a landlord's market."

According to the report, numbers for veterans show the smallest increase and families with children a slight decrease, which Loveless said reflects the community's strong commitment to prioritizing the two groups.

"The community is strongly committed to housing and preventing homelessness for families with children and there's been money from the federal level, state level and local level to support projects for those two groups," she said.

Loveless said she was not surprised by the findings -- her team knows there are probably more homeless people than are counted.

"I absolutely hope that the continued story of homelessness in our community will bring leadership together from both counties and from all of the municipalities to accept this as a problem that needs to be solved as a community," she said.

Amaris Castillo, law enforcement/island reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7051. Follow her on Twitter @AmarisCastillo.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 11:09 PM with the headline "Census reveals increase of homeless people in Manatee, Sarasota ."