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Nonprofits say progress on homelessness and senior nutrition needs more funding to avoid growing waitlists
Summary
Brevard homeless-services and senior-care nonprofits told the delegation that coordinated local efforts have improved outcomes, but Meals on Wheels waitlists and homelessness interventions still need sustainable funding to continue progress.
Representatives from Brevard’s homelessness system and senior services briefed the delegation on gains made using state and federal funding — and warned that gains are fragile without continued investment.
Amber Carroll, executive director of the Brevard Homeless Coalition, said the Continuum of Care has used state and federal resources to increase placements into permanent housing, shorten time in homelessness and expand coordinated interventions. She described a locally tailored response to the HB 1365 anti-camping law that used mobile shelter buses to provide immediate shelter for up to 60 people across the county at night.
Tom Cameron, CEO of Aging Matters in Brevard County, said the organization has placed several hundred seniors in permanent services but must now maintain capacity as Meals on Wheels demand grows. He said that for the first time in the organization’s history staff had to place high‑need clients on a waitlist for Meals on Wheels; if current funding trends continue their waitlist could grow substantially by next summer.
Why it matters: the speakers argued that state support helped the county reduce unsheltered homelessness by 5% in 2025 and to increase permanent-housing placements; but they also said federal and private funding alone will not cover long-term system capacity without state appropriations and program stability.
Requests: presenters asked the delegation to continue state funding for Continuum-of-Care operations, staffing grants and challenge grants that support outreach, rapid rehousing and shelter operations; Aging Matters requested increased support for Older Americans Act services and programs that prevent institutionalization.
Takeaway: presenters framed the asks as cost‑effective and human-centered: Meals on Wheels and permanent housing cost far less than institutional care and provide dignity and health benefits to vulnerable residents, but both need steady funding to avoid service gaps.
