JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville city leaders took a big step toward curbing homelessness Tuesday night. The city council approved Mayor Donna Deegan’s $26 million transition initiative plan.
The mayor’s transition plan checks off a lot of the things that may sound familiar from her speech on the day she was sworn in.
There’s money to address Jacksonville’s infant mortality rate and youth literacy. However, the biggest chunk of the money is going toward housing and to combat homelessness.
$500,000 will go to a permanent supportive housing program and more than $1 million dollars towards a homelessness prevention fund.
Housing has been a key issue the past few months – the mayor met with constituents in a subsidized apartment complex and the city council created a committee to specifically address homelessness.
An associate director with Family Promise of Jacksonville says she’s been getting nonstop phone calls from families in a bind.
“When you have a mom who is calling you and she’s sleeping in the car with four children, especially lately when it’s been rainy and cold – or in July, when the heat index at 11 o’clock at night will be 85, 90 degrees, that’s really hard to have to say to the mom, we don’t have a solution for you at the present time," said Beth Mixon.
Nixon says families with multiple kids are finding it hard to find multi-bedroom homes/apartments, and they cost more, naturally.
“Very often landlords want to have so many people in a bedroom," said Mixon. "So, the days of putting five kids in one bed is pretty much not accepted by landlords. Families often need two, three bedrooms, or even four bedrooms," Mixson said. "Housing is more than just a roof and four walls. It's healthcare. It's our workplace. It's a school. It's how we keep families together."
Other funding will support school and summer literacy programs, reducing infant mortality and maternal health initiatives, pediatric mental health support, and food insecurity relief for the elderly.
"It was committee members of the public came together and spoke on their lived experiences in the city of Jacksonville and the language from the individuals who live in our community help build this transition committee and the documents we've been working on this past several months," Councilmember Jimmy Peluso said during Tuesday night's city council meeting.
Mayor Donna Deegan says she is grateful for the nearly 1,000 citizens who participated in the seven task force campaigns launched.
“This is a transformational moment for Jacksonville. In June, during the transition, I launched seven task force committees and asked them to make concrete policy recommendations for the betterment of our city. This legislation is a direct result of that work.
I’m grateful for the nearly 1,000 citizens who participated in the committees. I also want to thank Council President Salem, Vice President White, and the entire Council for working collaboratively with us every step of the way.
It shows what is possible when we unite around our shared values, listen to our neighbors, and work together to move our city forward. I’m excited to sign this historic and one-of-a-kind legislation that will positively impact all our lives.”
The majority of the funding for the mayor’s initiative will come from the general fund and the American Rescue Plan money the city received during the pandemic.