A high school honors student and athlete.
A close-knit family of four.
A blue-eyed, blonde girl entering first grade.
An accounting professional.
A minister with a master's degree.
A technical engineer.
A U.S. Army veteran.
A single mom raising an infant while enrolled in college.
These are our homeless neighbors...Not who you expected?
Homeless people are real people who, more often than not, share upbringings, experiences and aspirations with each of us. Read their stories at
unexpectedfaces.orgThe 2007 Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County's Homeless Census Survey reports:
- 9,532 men, women, and children are homeless in Hillsborough County on any given night
- 16% are children
- 17% are families with children
- 47% are Caucasian
- 32% are African-American
- 12% are Hispanic
- 18% are veterans
- 91% became homeless in Florida
- 43% are homeless for the first time
| - 23% have drug and alcohol addictions
- 18% suffer from mental illlness
- 1% have the HIV/AIDS virus
- 28% have a physical disability
- 56% have some kind of income; of these, 37% are employed
- There are enough temporary beds to help 15% of homeless men, women, and children living in Hillsborough
- More than 2,200 Hillsborough County students were homeless during the 2006-2007 school year
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What We DoLeading- Bring approximately $6.5 million in federal, state, local and private funding into our community for homeless housing and services
- Coordinate the homeless continuum of care to maintain and expand services
- Arrange for local training opportunities for homeless service providers
- Conduct the bi-annual homeless census in Hillsborough County
- Oversee the UNITY information Network, a homeless management data system
Collaborating- Work with service providers and funding sources to help expand and develop new homeless services
- Bring together representatives from all segments of the community to develop and implement the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness and Citizen's Taskforce on Homelessness
Educating- Plan and participate in community education and awareness activities
- Speak with individuals and groups about why people become homeless and dispel myths about our homeless neighbors
- Inform the community about issues and activities related to homelessness at the local, state and national level
Advocating- A voice for homeless people at the local, state and national level
- Work directly with elected/appointed officials for policies that remove barriers to service, increase services and funding
What You Can DoBe a Voice.Talk with your elected and appointed officials about
your concern for our homeless neighbors and their unmet service and housing needs.
Stay Informed.Sign-up to receive
The Responder, the Coalitions weekly e-newsletter, and other information about homelessness.
Become a Member.Work with others who share your desire to help expand the community's ability to meet the needs of homeless men, women, and children.
Attend Coalition Meetings.Join us each month to network with others, raise awareness, discuss the homeless system of care and move the community developed plans forward.
Volunteer with the Coalition.Help with the Homeless Census, administrative tasks and awareness events.
Get Connected through UNITY.Connect on-line to provide more efficient case management and coordination of services for homeless clients.
(members of the Coalition only)
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