12-hour sleep-out event inspires the next generation of leaders
After winning Super Bowl XXXVII and being named MVP of the game, former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Dexter Jackson is giving back to the community that has given him so much. As one of the speakers at Hillsborough County's second-annual Camp Street Lights event, Jackson talked about his role as YouthBuild Program Manager at Tampa Housing Authority, working with at-risk youth ages 16-24 to help them gain employable job skills and reduce their risk of homelessness.
An estimated 3,784 Hillsborough County students are experiencing homelessness - living in cars, hotels or motels, shelters, or sharing homes with others. In addition to the vital community programs that help address this dire issue, Hillsborough County Children's Services hosts an annual overnight sleep-out to bring awareness to youth homelessness.
Leaders from around Hillsborough County and over 100 students from Alpha Kappa Alpha Precious Pearls youth group, Ryan Nece Foundation, Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative's Youth Action Board, University of South Florida, and other organizations came together on Nov. 22 to listen to first-hand accounts of formerly unhoused youth, learn about the reasons why people become homeless, and to get inspired to help the cause of ending youth homelessness.
Metropolitan Ministries led activities that put the students in scenarios that simulated homelessness or being on the verge of losing their home, including the fear, helplessness, and unfairness that comes with it. The goal of these exercises is for the students to recognize and understand how vulnerable community members are to becoming homeless and what they can do to help.
Food insecurity, one of the root causes of homelessness, was one of the main topics of the event. The lack of access to healthy, nutritious food has been further exacerbated by recent hurricanes as many families were displaced, and the contents of their fridges ruined. Lorena Hardwick, Chief Operating Officer for Feeding Tampa Bay (FTB), spoke about the organization's vital work over the past few months, hosting pop-up drive-thru meal giveaways, stocking community food banks throughout the county, and ensuring that FTB's campus on Causeway Boulevard has ample food for those in need.
The event also brought in 1,683 food donations to help Hillsborough County families currently without permanent housing. The donations were collected as a friendly competition between youth attendees from local schools and organizations. The Hillsborough County Youth Leadership Council brought in the most donations at 782.
A glimmer of hope
The 2024 Hillsborough County Homeless Point-in-Time Count indicates local homelessness trending downward - 1,893 in 2024, down 147 from the 2023 total. This is just a "snapshot" of the homeless population in our community during a single, 24-hour period but gives insight into the issue. While overall individual homelessness appears to be down, unhoused families increased from 179 in 2023 to 228 in 2024, highlighting the need for stable, affordable housing, access to food, and gainful employment.
Learn more about Hillsborough County Children's Services and Homeless & Community Services.