Needs in Saint Lucie County

I have grown up in Fort Pierce, FL and have always seen a homeless community. I often wondered why there were so many homeless people, and how they all got there. In the previous blog I identified the leading causes of homelessness nationally, and now I would like to bring attention specifically to the needs of Saint Lucie County. The needs here are great, and to help lay out a picture of the problems affecting the homeless here, I will list some statistics from the United Way Needs Assessment for the area.

First we will look at some of the problems facing the children here.

• The birth rate for teens aged 10-14 in the county is twice the state rate
• The child death rate is above the state level
• Marijuana, tobacco and alcohol use in young teens is higher than the state rate
• A quarter of new mothers have less than a high school or equivalent education

Here are the problems facing the adult population of Saint Lucie County

• 25% of those under 65 lack health insurance
• 20% of adults say their health is poor
• The county has the highest rate in Florida of people living with AIDS
• The rate of mental health treatment completion is lower than peer counties
• The crime index in Fort Pierce is double the state rate
• The incarceration rate is almost three times the state rate

These issues notably contribute to the homeless population in Fort Pierce, mainly the issues of mental health. Affordable housing and employment are currently hard to come by and have aggravated the problem. Fort Pierce has a homeless community that without help, is here to stay.