At the Homeless Trust meeting, staff reported that the August summer point‑in‑time count showed the county’s total homeless population — sheltered and unsheltered — fell about 7%, while the unsheltered population rose about 6% (64 people). The board discussed operational implications, including a delayed navigation center and steps the trust is taking to expand short‑term placement capacity.

The August count showed meaningful reductions in the urban core: the City of Miami’s count declined about 13% (82 people) and Miami Beach’s count fell about 8% (10 people). Increases were recorded in North Miami‑Dade and several municipalities and unincorporated areas including Miami Springs, North Miami Beach, Hialeah and Aventura. Staff cautioned that the point‑in‑time count is a single‑night snapshot; the next federally reported count will take place in the final 10 days of January and is submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the annual homeless assessment report.

Why it matters: the unsheltered uptick, even amid an overall decline, affects where outreach and shelter capacity must be targeted and pressures plans for new beds and housing placements.

Trust staff described several operational responses. The trust and partner cities ran a nighttime pilot that dedicates beds that open between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. to officers and trauma‑informed outreach teams; staff said that pilot produced more than 85 placements. Staff also reported targeted outreach efforts in municipalities reporting increases and said they are considering repositioning some outreach teams to areas with rising need.

On facilities, the board pressed staff about construction delays for a new navigation center. Staff said the project is still in the construction and review phase, that on‑site meetings with fire officials identified additional safety improvements, and that sewer‑line and drainage accommodations were required because the building was previously a thrift store/warehouse. Staff estimated the site could be operational by the end of the calendar year but cautioned that other simultaneous construction projects in the trust’s portfolio have created bottlenecks. The board’s chair said the navigation center “should have been open 90 days ago” and urged other county departments to help accelerate approvals.

Board members also discussed Hideaway Bay (formerly Lakinta), a hotel‑to‑housing conversion intended for older adults. Staff said Move‑ins are under way and that about 60–65% of units are occupied, though kitchenettes and some plumbing and electrical work remain months behind schedule. Staff reported carpet, paint and floor replacement work is completed or underway and that meals are being provided on site while kitchen work continues.

Separately, staff noted the trust has been using non‑competitive contracts to operate some owned properties (for example, Verde Gardens and a senior site) and to maintain matches or continuity of care for services already budgeted; the board ratified those provisions as part of broader contracting actions at the meeting.

The chair and staff agreed to meet with other county departments and the police chief outside the public meeting to identify specific steps to accelerate construction, inspections and equipment procurement. Staff emphasized the limits of the trust’s control over building and utility reviews and asked for additional county support to reduce the remaining obstacles.

The board was reminded that HUD counts in January will be the official data submitted to the federal government and that the August number is one of several tools used to identify gaps and target outreach. Staff said they are continuing to scale up beds and housing placements while pursuing partnerships for additional shelter and permanent housing.

Quotations used in this story come from public remarks during the Homeless Trust meeting and are attributed to listed speakers from the meeting record.