Where Do We Go From Here?

The state of Florida is in the midst of a crisis in its ability to provide adequate shelter and affordable housing for homeless individuals and families.

Florida is currently ranked 42 out of 50 in the nation for its inability to provide quality services to homeless children (more than 70,000 children in the state are homeless -- right at this very minute -- that is 4 Miami Heat Arenas filled to capacity). One homeless child is too many...70,000+ is beyond any words in my vocabulary.

According to the Department of Children and Families' (DCF) most recent report, there are approximately 85,907 persons homeless on any given day in our state; and only about 9,000 emergency shelter beds and an additional 13,000 transitional shelter beds are available to provide lodging to the entire homeless population in this state....Keep in mind that 85,907 is highly under-counted...

What's more frightening is the fact that Florida has led the nation (for the past 6 years) in violent attacks on homeless people. These horrific acts are generally committed primarily by our nation's housed youth and young adults.

So where do we go from here? How to we change the fate of our state and its homeless citizens? The answer isn't easy...there is no cardboard cutout solution...but it starts with US...If we do not raise awareness by educating ourselves, our youth, our government, and our community as a whole...on the issues that surround homelessness, these crimes and inadequate services will continue to plague the lives of our nation's invisible people.