State of Homelessness: A Roundtable Forum
Hosted by Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad
đź“Ť Orange County Administration Building
đź“… September 25th at 6 PM- 201 S. Rosalind Ave Orlando Florida 32801
đź”— Visit www.kellysemrad.com to RSVP
Since the passage of the state ban on public homeless camping in October 2024 and Orange County’s own local ordinance, homelessness has become even harder to track — not because it’s been resolved, but because it’s being pushed further out of public view.
Commissioner Kelly Martinez Semrad invites you to an urgent community roundtable forum on The State of Homelessness in Orange County. Over the past several months, the District 5 office has been conducting one-on-one interviews with homeless service providers and organizations across the county. What we’re hearing is clear:
The number of people experiencing homelessness is rising.
A growing number of seniors and children are being pushed into crisis.
The policies meant to address homelessness are making it harder to serve those in need.
Food pantry shelves are empty. Outreach workers are struggling to find and assist people hiding deeper in wooded areas. Case managers can’t connect clients to stable housing that doesn’t exist or isn’t affordable. And all of this is happening amid ongoing federal budget cuts and record inflation that’s pricing out even those with income.
With more than 40% of our unhoused population now made up of aging seniors, and nearly 10,000 homeless students in OCPS struggling to attend school regularly, it’s clear: this is a crisis that cannot be ignored.
This roundtable will feature:
First-hand updates from homeless service organizations about what they are experiencing on the ground
A candid conversation on the consequences of current state and local policies
A space for the public to learn, engage, and ask questions
Policy solution ideas to move our community forward
Media presence to spotlight the severity of the issue and uplift the voices of frontline organizations
This is more than a forum. It’s a call to action.
We encourage all community members, advocates, nonprofit leaders, and concerned residents to attend. Let’s raise awareness, share the truth, and push for meaningful change together.
RSVP and learn more at www.kellysemrad.com
For questions, please email
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