JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville non-profit organization is getting the opportunity to grow with the help of a U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs federal grant.
Shephard's House provides emergency housing and support services to homeless women and their children. The grant allows the organization to expand outreach and support to 20 more women, veterans, and their children experiencing homelessness in Jacksonville.
"We can help people in a lot of different areas: housing, we help them with meals, clothing, if they need legal services, or transportation," Shephard's House Program Director Claudia Marinoff said.
Shephard's House has provided emergency temporary housing and other amenities for veterans and their families for about a year. Program Director Claudia Marinoff says the facility is in a former hotel on Jacksonville's Northside. It has more than 100 rooms and can house up to 400 people on any given night.
"I believe there's only about 400 people that get this grant throughout the whole United States and we were one of them," Marinoff said. "This is like a blessing from the sky. It gives them an opportunity to come here and make it a house and then hopefully they can get rebuilt.'
Marinoff says Shephard's House offers immediate and long-term needs. They hope to continue making progress in combating Jacksonville's homelessness issue.
"You're not alone. And if you need help, just give us a call. We have this new grant and you know, we love to see people here, you know, becoming a part of our organization," Marinoff said.
Shephard's House works with the city of Jacksonville to provide services. If you are in need, call (561) 990-8089.