Homelessness in Broward County

Learn more about our November 8th event on “Homelessness in Broward County” here.

Homelessness in Broward County

Written By: Commissioner Chip Lamarca

Since the early 1990’s, Broward County has demonstrated a long term commitment to ending homelessness. However, the recognized national best practice approach to ending homelessness has changed significantly since that time. Therefore, in August 2013, Broward County began investing and implementing a “Housing First” based Homeless Continuum of Care. Housing First is a nationally recognized, evidence-based homeless assistance approach that prioritizes providing permanent housing to people experiencing homelessness, thus ending their homelessness quicker. This approach is guided by the belief that people need basic necessities like food and a place to live before attending to anything less critical, such as getting a job, budgeting properly or attending to substance use issues. Today, Broward’s Continuum of Care Housing First programs end homelessness faster and more permanently via shortened stays in emergency sheltering followed placement in rapid rehousing or permanent, supportive housing interventions, which provide ongoing supportive services such as case management to address physical and mental health issues and promote self-sufficiency. Assisting chronically homeless people using Housing First has proven to be as much as 75% more cost effective than providing assistance via emergency rooms, hospitalization, EMS services, jail stays and repetitive visits to emergency shelters.

The only way that we will solve this crisis is by working together with all 31 municipalities…

The Homeless Point in Time (PIT) County Data of 2017 demonstrated the need in Broward County. After six consecutive years of decline, the 2017 PIT Count identified 2,450 homeless individuals in Broward, up slightly (6%) from 2016’s count of 2,302. The data demonstrated that 39% or 957 homeless people were unsheltered and in need of permanent housing assistance. Among these, 59% have severe mental illness, substance abuse and/or other disabling conditions, 9% are veterans, and more than 13% of the total are children under the age of 18. Broward County is doing its share in order to provide services and permanently house homeless individuals. Last Fiscal Year (FY 2017) County funded programs and collective efforts of the Homeless Continuum of Care and its partners that provided 1,042 County funded beds for the homeless. Funding also assisted in 4,969 homeless clients receiving Intensive Homeless Street Outreach that engaged them towards ending their homelessness. Additionally, 35% of homeless individuals leaving Emergency Shelter went into Permanent Housing and 70% of homeless individuals who were in Transitional Housing went into Permanent Housing.

Broward County continues its efforts to end homelessness in our community by increasing Federal resources, securing State resources, doubling the number of chronically homeless that can be served, increasing the Homeless Continuum of Care funding, engaging national homeless experts, and reviewing/updating our plan to end homelessness in Broward County called “A Way Home”, but more can be done. The only way that we will solve this crisis is by working together with all 31 municipalities. One way that municipalities can work together with the County is by investing resources in the “Housing First” plan. Directing critical resources like infrastructure, services and funding from our municipalities can be an instrumental aspect to make a difference in our communities while also providing the assistance that is needed.

Learn more about our November 8th event on “Homelessness in Broward County” here.