Northeast Florida has seen a 14% increase in homelessness over the past year, according to the nonprofit Changing Homelessness’ annual Point in Time Count. In January, volunteers canvassed the streets and shelters in Baker, Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties, counting a total of 1,146 people experiencing homelessness.

Of those counted, 1,071 were in Duval County, including 379 people who were living outside, in a car, or another spot that’s not meant to be shelter — representing a 31% increase in the number of people without shelter since last year.

Despite the increase, Changing Homelessness notes that the total number of people experiencing homelessness in the region has decreased by 42% since 2016. The number of people who meet the definition of “chronic homelessness” (meaning they’ve been unhoused for more than a year) also dropped significantly in the last year.

Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.