In 2009, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs estimated there were more than 21,000 homeless people in the state — nearly 20 percent higher than in 2008. That same year, the department estimated more than 240 homeless people were in Hall County, 230 who had no shelter at all. Fast forward to 2012 and the number of students deemed homeless in Gainesville and Hall County Schools has increased, giving social workers limited options on how to accommodate the transient students.