Homeless count finds more people lacking shelter in Palm Beach County than in 2023

Julius Whigham II, Palm Beach Post
·2 min read

Cases of homelessness in Palm Beach County increased over the past year, according to a recent count showing more people without stable housing compared to 2023.

Local outreach teams identified 2,126 individuals and families as lacking permanent shelter during a point-in-time count conducted over 24 hours in January, according to a statement released Tuesday, April 16, by the county's Community Services Department.

The homeless count represented an increase of 271 people from the 1,855 counted during a similar 24-hour survey in 2023.

It comes at a time of soaring housing prices in South Florida, with the median price of a single-family home in Palm Beach County at $640,000 in March, according to the Broward, Palm Beaches and St. Lucie Realtors group. Many rental properties cost between $2,000 and $3,000 per month.

The Palm Beach County Homeless Coalition on Dec. 21, 2023, honored those who had died without shelter that year. A list shown during a remembrance ceremony at the Lewis Center in West Palm Beach bore 41 names when it was printed. By the time of the ceremony, six more had died.
The Palm Beach County Homeless Coalition on Dec. 21, 2023, honored those who had died without shelter that year. A list shown during a remembrance ceremony at the Lewis Center in West Palm Beach bore 41 names when it was printed. By the time of the ceremony, six more had died.

How does Palm Beach County count its residents who don't have homes?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires the count to be completed at least every two years for municipalities to qualify for federal funding geared to help reduce homelessness.

More than 300 county employees and community volunteers participated in the point-in-time count on Jan. 25 and 26, visiting wooded areas, parking lots, bus stops and abandoned buildings, among other locations, in search of people who are homeless. Law enforcement officers from various agencies escorted them.

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"Every year we come together with our shared belief and commitment to effectively serve residents experiencing homelessness and work towards a common goal of ensuring that homelessness in Palm Beach County is rare, brief and nonrecurring,” Wendy Tippett, the human services and community action director of the county Community Services Department, said in a prepared statement.

“We know that our work is not over, which is why we use the PIT count numbers to make data-driven decisions on how to provide essential services to the areas most in need.”

New resource center provides temporary housing for people needing shelter

Since 2020, the Palm Beach County Community Services Department and Homeless and Housing Alliance have spent more than $120 million on homeless and homeless prevention services.

In January, a new housing resource center was opened in Lake Worth Beach to provide temporary shelter for those in need. The 66-bed facility provides interim shelter for individuals and families as they transition into more permanent housing opportunities.

The number of veterans who are without permanent housing was down this year compared to past counts, officials said. Among the steps the region has taken to help veterans who are homeless in recent years is a 60-bed site at the VA Medical Center in Riviera Beach.

Those who need help or information about finding shelter can contact the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County at 561-355-4663 or the Sen. Phillip D. Lewis Center in West Palm Beach at 561-904-7900.

Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on Twitter at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: More people homeless in Palm Beach County in 2024 than previous year