TAMPA, Fla. — The City of Tampa is looking for ways to ease homelessness.  

A discussion on homelessness is being held Tuesday evening at the Hillsborough Community College Ybor Performing Arts building.

The city is bringing everyone together, from officials to community members, because they say that's what it takes to address homelessness — everyone working together.  

One organization says now it's even more important to have these conversations because they expect to see an increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness this year.

“Our biggest concern is once the federal funds run out, what's next? And how do we keep people in housing?” said Antoinette Hayes-Triplett, CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative (THHI).

The THHI is the go-between for the homeless and the organizations that provide the homeless services.  In recent years, Hayes-Triplett says they've been able to do things to successfully keep people in homes, like the 560 Strategic Plan, where they got 560 people into homes in 560 days. But now, additional federal funding is running out, while housing prices continue to increase in Tampa Bay.

While THHI was able to keep the number of people experiencing homelessness down during the last few years, because of the pandemic and inflation, they expect to see an increase this year, which is why it's so important to come up with solutions through meetings like the one the City of Tampa is holding Tuesday evening.

“The housing crisis is about three things, and we call it the housing gap, so gentrification, affordable housing and preservation of housing, so those are the things we'll be addressing as we move forward. How can we partner with anyone and everyone,” said Hayes-Triplett.

The meeting runs from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and is open to the public. Those who would like to attend in person are asked to RSVP. The meeting will also be live streamed on the City of Tampa’s Facebook page. ​