JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The City of Jacksonville is planning to partner with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department to help the city comply with a new state law that bans people from sleeping outside.
The Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping law will take effect October 1 across the state of Florida. Leaders with Changing Homelessness, an agency that assists those experiencing homelessness and connects them with services, believe moving people off the street is not enough to solve the homeless crisis.
"Many of the folks that we are working with have a diagnosed disability or a chronic health condition," Dawn Gilman, CEO of Changing Homelessness, said.
That's why leaders are excited the the city is now bringing in JFRD to help with their 12-step plan to address Jacksonville's homeless population.
"They have a considerable amount of mental health and health care, emergency health experience has EMTs," Gilman said.
In July, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan introduced her 12-step plan to comply with the state law and address the homeless community. The plan includes expanding shelter capacity, increasing homeless outreach teams, develop 24/7 intake plans, and to build a temporary 100-bed shelter.
In a proposed ordinance for the development and implementation of a homelessness strategic plan for Duval County, the city would give $2.5 million to JFRD who will serve as the first point of contact for the outreach components of the city homelessness strategic plan.
This includes establishing a JFRD 24/7 EMS Response Team and adding seven new positions to the department. The teams will assist in providing access to mental health and substance abuse programs, and connecting those facing homelessness with long term assistance programs.
In a statement city leaders say JFRD is the perfect partner because; “JFRD currently interacts with the homeless population more than any other City of Jacksonville department during responses to 911 emergency medical calls.”
Leaders from Changing Homelessness hope funding EMS personnel will allow them to address problems that contribute to homelessness, like mental health issues and substance abuse.
“This is looking at what we would call the front door, how do we engage people in the system of care who are in housing crisis and try to get them to the help that they need to get them out of that housing crisis," Gilman said.
On Tuesday, the Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee approved a second reading of the ordinance. A public hearing is set for Sept. 10, 2024.