Understanding the need in our community and the services that help neighbors rebuild stability

From 2024 to 2025, the total number of people experiencing homelessness in Seminole County went from 420 to 436, a 3.8% increase. That figure includes people sleeping in emergency shelters and traditional housing. [1]

Behind every number is a neighbor. A senior is living in a car in a church parking lot. A family staying in a motel after an unexpected job loss. A young adult couch surfing after leaving an unsafe home.

While the need continues to grow, you can ensure no one has to face this crisis alone.

Across Seminole County, donors, volunteers, nonprofits, faith communities, and local leaders are working together to provide practical support and prevent more families from losing their housing.

This blog explores what homelessness looks like here, highlights a few key partners, and shares simple ways you can help.

What homelessness looks like in Seminole County

When people hear the word “homeless,” they often think of someone holding a sign on a street corner. In reality, homelessness in Florida and Seminole County can look very different from person to person.

Some neighbors are:

• Sleeping outside, in tents, cars, or wooded areas
• Staying in emergency shelters or transitional housing
• Living temporarily in motels or doubling up with friends or relatives

Recent surveys show a rise in Seminole County’s homeless population in recent years, with hundreds of people counted in shelters and on the streets. At the same time, local data shows a sharp rise in housing costs, limited affordable rentals, and more older adults affected by homelessness across Central Florida. [1]

These trends remind us that homelessness is rarely the result of a single choice. It is often a series of challenges coming together at the wrong time:

• Job loss or reduced work hours
• Medical bills or chronic health conditions
• Domestic violence or family conflict
• Rising rent and cost of living
• Limited transportation or child care
• Mental health challenges
• Substance use struggles

Because the causes are complex, effective solutions must be coordinated. That coordination is made possible through community support.

Related resource:
Homelessness in Seminole County: How you can help

How your support helps neighbors experiencing homelessness

Thanks to the generosity of community partners, donors, and volunteers, neighbors experiencing homelessness in Seminole County can access services that meet immediate needs while supporting long-term stability.

Here are some of the ways you help The Sharing Center walk alongside neighbors who are…homeless or at risk:

The Oasis homeless respite center

Through your support, neighbors have access to The Oasis, the only homeless respite center of its kind in Seminole County.

This safe, welcoming space allows individuals experiencing homelessness to:

• Take hot showers and do laundry
• Receive mail and access the internet
• Connect with housing guidance and resources
• Meet with case managers and plan next steps

These basic services remove daily barriers that often make it difficult to pursue housing, employment, or medical care. By meeting essential needs with dignity, your support helps neighbors focus on rebuilding stability.

Learn more:
The Oasis Program: Providing dignity, stability, and hope for unhoused individuals and families

Food access through The Pantry

Through The Pantry, the largest free food program in Seminole County, neighbors can access groceries, fresh produce, and essential household items. This support reduces financial strain, helps households stretch limited budgets, and prevents food insecurity from becoming a tipping point toward homelessness.

Financial assistance through the Family Support Program

When unexpected hardships threaten housing or basic needs, your support helps provide immediate, short-term assistance through the Family Support Program.

This may include:

• Rent and utility payments
• Clothing and household essentials
• Access to food and hygiene items
• Connections to additional community resources

Every household also receives personalized case management focused on long-term stability. Case managers work alongside families to set goals, strengthen financial habits, and access tools that encourage lasting independence.

Your involvement helps turn a moment of crisis into an opportunity for stabilization and forward progress.

Workforce development and long-term stability

Through ProjectRISE, participants can increase their earning potential and learn valuable job skills to help them move toward financial independence.

Participants receive:

• Employment readiness support
• Financial literacy education
• Personalized coaching and case management

By building skills, confidence, and clear goals, ProjectRISE helps individuals pursue steady income and long-term self-sufficiency. This support works alongside housing and food assistance, ensuring participants can focus on growth without sacrificing basic needs.

Related resource:
Building brighter futures through ProjectRISE

How you can help locally

Preventing and alleviating homelessness in Seminole County is only possible through continued community support. You can make a direct impact in several ways:

• Donate essentials: Nonperishable food, baby supplies, hygiene products, and gas or grocery gift cards help meet immediate needs.
• Volunteer your time: Assist with sorting donations, stocking shelves, or serving neighbors in need.
• Shop with purpose: Purchases made at The Sharing Center’s thrift, boutique, and furniture stores directly fund programs that help families regain stability.
• Join the Circle of Care with a monthly gift: A recurring donation provides consistent, year-round support, helping families and individuals facing hardship move toward a more stable future.

You make their progress possible

Homelessness is a community challenge that requires a community response. Every day, individuals find safety, families remain housed, and neighbors regain independence because people choose to give, volunteer, and make a difference.

Every act of support, whether a financial donation, a volunteer shift, or a shared resource, helps turn uncertainty into a clear path forward for a neighbor in need. Your involvement makes that progress possible.

1: Central Florida Public Media | New Survey: Central Florida lagging in solutions for its homeless