GAINESVILLE, Fla. (June 5, 2026) — The Keys to Home Continuum of Care (CoC) Leadership Council Board announced that four new members and two incumbent members were elected to serve on the Board following a unanimous certification of election results on June 4, 2026, in accordance with federal CoC governance regulations. Following certification of the election, the Board also unanimously re-elected its executive leadership officers.

“The progress our Continuum of Care has achieved over the past several years demonstrates what is possible when communities work together toward a shared goal,” said CoC Council Chair Claudia Huggins-Tuck. “We have strengthened rural collaboration in Union and Dixie counties which were previously unserved by any CoC, expanded housing and shelter resources, improved system performance, and reduced homelessness across our region. While we are proud of these accomplishments, much work remains ahead. I am excited to welcome our new Board members and continue strengthening a coordinated system that helps individuals and families achieve housing stability and economic independence. In the year ahead, we look forward to launching a state-of-the-art homeless prevention system designed to streamline access and help families receive assistance before a housing crisis becomes homelessness. We will also soon open a public portal for residents and business owners to request homeless outreach assistance. Together, we remain committed to building a stronger, more responsive system of care for our community.”

Led by TaskForce for Ending Homelessness, the Keys to Home CoC serves Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Putnam, and Union counties. The Leadership Council Board consists of 18 seats, including representatives appointed by local governments and members elected by stakeholders to two-year terms.

Newly Elected Members

• Erick Saks, Executive Director of Operation Lifeline, Inc. and President of Lifeline Construction, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (Ret.), representing the real estate sector.
• Fred Schilffarth, President of the Board of Directors for Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation, representing homeless service providers.
• Madelyn “Maddye” Fleming, Director of Community Impact at United Way of North Central Florida and 2-1-1, representing the behavioral health sector.
• Pamela Worsham, Homeless Education Coordinator for Alachua County Public Schools, representing the family homelessness sector.

Re-Elected Members

• Amanda Nazaro, Executive Director of Alachua County Housing Authority, representing public housing authorities.
• Lori Slaven, Executive Director of Lee Conlee House, representing domestic violence service providers.

Re-Elected Executive Leadership Officers

• Chair Claudia Huggins-Tuck, LCSW, Director of Community Support Services, Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.
• Vice Chair Dr. Bea Awoniyi, Assistant Vice President, Santa Fe College.
• Treasurer Michelle Sherfield, Community Relations Manager, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.

For more information about the Keys to Home Continuum of Care and to view the full list of Leadership Council Board members, visit www.keystohome.org.

 

Gainesville, FL — The official 2026 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count results for Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Putnam and Union Counties surveyed 613 individuals experiencing homelessness across North Central Florida, including 414 individuals residing in sheltered settings and 199 individuals identified through unsheltered surveys.

The PIT Count is conducted nationwide in January and serves as a federally required snapshot of homelessness trends. The count reflects conditions observed during a single evening and does not represent the full scope of homelessness experienced throughout the year or even within a single month.

This year’s results reflect continued system coordination efforts and investments focused on reducing street homelessness through outreach, coordinated entry processes, behavioral health treatment, and cross-sector collaboration. Compared to the previous year, the 2026 PIT Count reflected fewer individuals identified through unsheltered surveys, while sheltered survey counts increased slightly. Overall, North Central Florida has experienced a substantial decline in the total number of individuals identified during the Point-in-Time Count since 2023, when 1,006 individuals were surveyed across the region.

Over the preceding 18 months, TaskForce and Continuum of Care partners have implemented record levels of street outreach deployment, expanded professional training initiatives, strengthened coordination among service providers, and reinforced a community-wide commitment to collaboration with law enforcement and EMS partners. This year’s PIT Count also incorporated enhanced technology systems, including GIS-based mapping tools designed to improve geographic coverage, strengthen real-time coordination, and eliminate the potential for duplicate surveys among field teams.

For the full report, visit www.taskforcefl.org/data-and-reports.

 

North Central Florida – The TaskForce for Ending Homelessness is proud to announce the award of $2,088,963.00 in community grants to nine nonprofit organizations serving individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. These funds will support critical services across Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, Putnam, and Union Counties.

The awarded programs will provide a range of solutions, including outreach at encampments, schools, hospitals, and jails; housing services such as short-term rental and mortgage assistance for those behind on payments; and rehousing services with individualized case management. The grants also support adult and family emergency shelters, domestic violence and human trafficking shelters, behavioral health care programs, and more.

“These grants are a reflection of what’s possible when communities unite behind a shared mission. Together, we’re building a system of care that meets people where they are and supports them in moving forward toward self-sufficiency,” said Claudia Tuck, LCSW, Director of Alachua County Community Support Services and Chair of the CoC Leadership Council.

Among the organizations awarded funding by the Continuum of Care are Another Way, Catholic Charities Bureau, Family Promise, Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry (GRACE Marketplace), Lee Conlee House, Neighborhood Housing and Development Corporation, Peaceful Paths, Putnam County Caring Coalition, and Released Reentry.

Continuum of Care funding is made possible through the generous support of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners.

“This investment strengthens our region’s collective response to homelessness,” said Keanna Johnson, Continuum of Care Director at the TaskForce. “It equips our partners with the resources needed to connect people to housing quickly, offer targeted supports, and build long-term housing stability.”

Together, these grants reinforce the region’s commitment to coordinated, data-driven, and compassionate care, ensuring that fewer individuals fall into homelessness—and more are able to exit it permanently.

 

North Central Florida — The results of the 2025 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count conducted in North Central Florida have been released, showing that 887 individuals were experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, including 436 sheltered and 451 unsheltered individuals.

The county breakdown is as follows:

• Alachua County: 746
• Bradford County: 25
• Dixie County: 2
• Levy County: 38
• Putnam County: 76

Key highlights from this year’s data exposes the ongoing housing crisis across all communities in the region. Among those counted were 60 children under 18, 266 adults over 55, 128 military veterans, and 43 survivors of domestic violence.

The PIT Count, a federally mandated annual effort required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is designed to estimate the needs and number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. In 2025, the TaskForce, serving as the DCF and HUD-designated CoC Lead Agency, introduced a range of innovative improvements to expand the reach and accuracy of the effort.

“This year’s count was the most comprehensive and coordinated to date,” said Jacob Torner, Vice President of Programs at the TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness. “We implemented new cutting-edge technology and expanded coverage across all counties in our region to ensure no one was missed, including those still displaced by the hurricanes we endured this past year.”

Key advancements in 2025 included:

• Full county-level survey coverage across Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Levy, and Putnam Counties
• Deployment of a custom digital survey application for field teams
• Real-time GIS tracking for improved resource management
• Dynamic reallocation of volunteers and surveyors to priority areas based on live data

The TaskForce collaborated with more than 100 community organizations, public safety agencies, volunteers, and local officials to execute the count.

“These numbers are more than statistics—they reflect real people facing real challenges, including vulnerable seniors, veterans, and children,” said Torner. “This data allows us to better strategize and implement the targeted solutions our region urgently needs. Very importantly, we hope it inspires the community to join us in the effort to end veteran homelessness in North Central Florida by 2026.”

 

North Central Florida – The North Central Florida Continuum of Care (CoC) is set to commence the 2025 Annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, an initiative aimed at documenting and understanding the scope of homelessness across the region. This year’s PIT will take place from January 28th through January 30th, operating daily between 5:30 AM and 10:00 PM at various locations across Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Putnam Counties. 

 

The PIT Count is part of a nationwide effort mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and executed by local CoCs. Over three days, 130 trained volunteers, along with CoC staff and public safety personnel, will engage with individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Using a survey tool, they will collect a wide range of data. The findings will be compiled into a comprehensive public report to inform policy enhancements and improve service efforts.

 

“The Point-in-Time Count is more than just a data collection effort—it’s a powerful opportunity to engage with our community and understand the challenges faced by individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Together, we can use this knowledge to drive meaningful solutions and create pathways to housing stability for everyone in our community.” -Keanna Johnson, CoC Director

Through this funding, 40 emergency shelter beds will be supported across Alachua, Bradford, and Putnam Counties, providing essential resources to individuals and families in crisis:

All shelter beds funded by this initiative represent new capacity for the community, addressing a shortage of emergency housing options. This expansion supports the region’s coordinated efforts to provide immediate and critical shelter services to those most in need.

“Unsheltered homelessness remains one of the most pressing challenges our communities face,” said Claudia Tuck, LCSW, Director of Alachua County Community Support Services and Chair of the CoC Leadership Council. “These grants reflect a tangible step forward in ensuring that individuals and families have a safe place to stay while working toward housing. We are honored to partner with our emergency shelter providers in this critical endeavor.”