At any given time, more than 57,000 homeless people -- and that's the most conservative estimate around -- vie for the privilege of sleeping in one of Florida's 7,000 emergency-shelter beds. The rest are left to spend their nights on the streets, under bridges, in cars, or anyplace else that can offer a measure of warmth and security. That's the bleak reality of homelessness in Florida, a problem experts say is growing by the day.

Despite a smattering of state efforts, Florida still meets only 12 percent of the shelter needs of its homeless citizens. That's why the homelessness initiative being led by Senate President John McKay and approved recently by a unanimous Senate is welcome.

McKay's homeless measure won't work miracles, but it would put more state money in the hands of coalitions best able to build up housing as they rebuild lives. It represents the most state attention the homeless have received in years, and it should be embraced without delay by the full House.

The measure would create a new state office on homelessness, along with a council of appointed volunteers, who would develop and coordinate a statewide plan for preventing and responding to homelessness. The office would offer $500,000 in "challenge grants" and up to $750,000 in housing grants to counties, coalitions or non-profits interested in providing emergency shelter, transitional services or permanent housing. It would double the bonding authority of the state Housing Finance Corp. and require it to account for serving the needs of Florida's homeless.

The measure rightly emphasizes local flexibility. As McKay, who has a degree in social welfare, recognizes, the conditions that lead to homelessness are varied, and tackling them takes a multifaceted and often localized approach.

The bill highlights two factors that have historically played a role: a critical shortage of affordable housing, particularly low-cost rental apartments, and a general lack of public resources. In some areas of Florida, the waiting list for federal housing vouchers is more than three years long. Some counties have no homeless-shelter beds.

Though Florida's homeless population is often hidden, it is not faceless. Most of the homeless in Florida are state residents. Some have substance-abuse or mental problems. The majority work, either full- or part-time. Many are families. One-fifth are veterans -- and one-third are under the age of 18.

If nothing else, McKay deserves credit for forcing his fellow lawmakers to take a serious look at the identity -- and long-unfulfilled needs -- of Florida's homeless.

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