One unexpected expense on a fixed income can upend a person’s financial stability. But in Lake and Sumter counties, there are organizations that offer programs to help residents find their footing.
As executive director of the Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, Barbara Venditto hears countless stories from Sumter and Lake county seniors who have either lost or are on the verge of losing their homes.
Thirty-seven percent of Sumter County households and 43% of Lake County households are on the brink of poverty, according to the United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties.
“Those numbers are increasing every day,” Venditto said. “Seniors are literally being priced out of the market. Whether it’s due to a death, a medical incident or the rising cost of housing in Florida, there are a number of things that can cause the loss of funds for seniors on a fixed income.
“Nationwide, women outlive men. They are the most vulnerable of the elderly population because, traditionally, they didn’t work at a young age, so they don’t have a pension or high social security benefits,” Venditto said. “Also, more women are having medical issues leading to financial issues.”
Florida has the third-largest homeless population in the U.S., with 1 in 4 homeless adults in the state being over 55 years old, according to the Council On Homelessness. Those numbers are expected to triple by 2030.
“This is the generation that grew up during the Great Depression,” Venditto said. “Their parents instilled the importance of saving. They never imagined they would be here. They are embarrassed and have been thrown into a world they don’t understand.”
She also said seniors living on the street are at risk for violence.
“Life on the street is very dangerous. Most of the older people affected are just not equipped,” Venditto said. “People will steal the shoes off you feet as you sleep.”
Local organizations such as Virginia Samuels Care Inc., United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties and the Mid Florida Homeless Coalition are trying to help ease the strain by providing basic essentials, financial coaching and affordable housing options.Virginia Samuels Care Inc.
Candaece Chatman remembers as a young girl watching her grandmother give selflessly to any and everyone who needed help, including homeless individuals — something she admits she didn’t understand then but does now.
To honor the legacy of her grandmother, who died in 2022, Chatman founded the nonprofit Virginia Samuels Cares Inc. in 2023 to provide resources to vulnerable adults. The program aims to build a sense of economic self-sufficiency for participating individuals affected by homelessness, mental illness, stroke or incarceration.
“My grandma, Virginia Samuels, worked for the city of Leesburg for 31 years and I watched her help the homeless and give back to people secretly,” Chatman said. “To honor her loudly, we want to always be a hand up and not a handout. We want to help people help themselves and teach them skills to know how to survive.”
This year alone, the nonprofit has provided two weeks of free food to individuals living out of hotels in Lake County, provided free canned goods to residents in Carver Heights and boxed lunches to individuals using the weekly free shower program at Frontier Church. The nonprofit also provided 32 families with free clothing during a three-day giveaway in August.
“We don’t have a brick-and-mortar location,” Chatman said. “We want to go where the need is and meet the homeless individuals where they are.”
The nonprofit also owns two homes in Lake County that it rents to people who would otherwise be homeless or have difficulty qualifying for a home.United Way of Lake And Sumter Counties
Kathy Gazda, marketing and communications director for United Way, said the nonprofit tries to mitigate the circumstances that lead to homelessness before it happens.
Gazda said the individuals they work with, including seniors on a fixed income, are facing or at risk of facing homelessness because of unexpected issues including medical expenses, natural disasters and inflated food prices.“We often hear the term, ‘one paycheck away,’” she said. “One unexpected expense and you are going to need help to keep a roof over your head.”
Keith Barsuhn, interim president and CEO of United Way of Lake and Sumter Counties, said the nonprofit assists residents reach financial stability by providing assistance, coaching or job training.
During the first six months of 2025, the nonprofit assisted 212 families in Lake and Sumter counties by providing over $121,849.65 in rent and mortgage support, $7,740.05 in grocery assistance and $29,566.22 in utilities assistance.
The nonprofit partners with other organizations in the space of homelessness prevention.
“I always encourage people to call 2-1-1,” Barsuhn said. “They are trained to find the best options for you whether you need food or shelter. They help to find the root cause of the issue and address it.”
Mid Florida Homeless Coalition
Mid Florida Homeless Coalition is one of those partners. It has been working to address homelessness is rural areas including Lake and Sumter counties for 20 years.
“This is a perception that homeless people are criminals, drug addicts or criminals,” Venditto said. “For our homeless population, less than 17% have felony backgrounds. These are not criminals, drug addicts or people suffering from mental illness.”
Venditto said it is getting tough for organizations to provide care during federal and state cuts, including a $1.6 million veto of the Permanent Supportive Housing, Transitional Housing and Housing First from the 2025-26 state budget.
“We are getting incredibly creative,” Venditto said. “We’ve called local churches and even estranged family members. It’s a case-by-case situation so we can find what (the person’s) need really is.”
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
