JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville City Council has approved allocating over $1.3 million toward expanding homeless shelter capacity in Duval County amid high demand.
The funding, sourced from the Homelessness Initiatives Special Revenue Fund, is aimed at increasing the number of available beds by 110 for homeless individuals in the area.
This shelter expansion comes after Florida bill HB 1365 was signed into law that criminalizes unhoused people who sleep in the streets. From Nov. 1 to Nov. 14, JSO said their officers arrested 23 people accused of violating the new law. Seventeen others have received notices to appear in court.
The ordinance passed by the council Tuesday designates a total of $1,333,728 for the shelter initiative. The funds will be administered by the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD), with specific allocations to three local organizations that provide emergency shelter services:
- Trinity Rescue Mission, Inc. will receive $634,421.60.
- City Rescue Mission, Inc. will receive $288,970.40.
- The Salvation Army will receive $410,336.00.
These funds are intended to help the organizations increase their shelter capacity.