Alachua County’s homeless point-in-time survey showed a 17% decrease in people living unsheltered or in shelters—from 725 in 2023 to 644 this year. 

The annual survey, conducted by more than 100 volunteers and coordinated by the United Way of North Central Florida, provides a one-day look at local homelessness. This year’s survey happened on Jan. 22 and included people living in transitional housing.  

Amber Miller, president and CEO of United Way, said the point-in-time survey fails to capture all homelessness that occurs throughout the year, a snapshot of the situation. 

“While the PIT Count is an important tool for understanding the scope of homelessness, it cannot capture the full extent of the issue or the fluidity of individuals’ housing situations,” Miller said in a press release. 

While lower than last year, the 2024 numbers remain higher than prior years.  

Alachua County point-in-time survey from 2021-2014 

• 2021 

• Total: 521 

• Sheltered: 249 

• Unsheltered: 272 

• 2022 

• Total: 625 

• Sheltered: 307 

• Unsheltered: 318 

• 2023 

• Total: 725 

• Sheltered: 308 

• Unsheltered: 417 

• 2024 

• Total: 644 

• Sheltered: 298 

• Unsheltered: 346 

Within the unsheltered population, the largest age group represented in the survey was 35- to 44-year-olds, with 104 people, followed by 45- to 54-year-olds, with 70 people. Males also represented 63% of the unsheltered population.  

United Way of Central Florida has transitioned away from its role as lead agency for the Continuum of Care, a coordinating entity for homeless services. In April, United Way announced that TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness would assume the role.  

“It has been a privilege to serve our community as lead agency these past six years,” Miller said. “This transition will allow our organization to focus more intensively on the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) population, a group that is critically underserved and at high risk of falling into homelessness.”