JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said in a Monday press conference at city hall that the city has a goal in place to achieve "functional zero" in the pursuit of combating homelessness.
The mayor's goal in mind comes in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis signing a bill into law that bans people from sleeping on public property and camping out; the law goes into effect Oct. 1. Deegan said it will take five years to accomplish the goal.
Functional zero refers to when the number of individuals who become homeless is the same number as those who find permanent housing during the same year.
Deegan said the intent for the plan is to avoid having a "tent city," as the city is teaming up with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, local shelters and community services. It entails either having a designated police officer or someone from an outreach team work with a homeless person and transport them to a place of rest whether it's a hotel or shelter, costing $13 million.
"We're not gonna be able leaving anyone behind anymore," said Joshua Hicks, a member of the mayor's homelessness work group. "We're gonna have a solution for them. And it's up to us to make sure those solutions are implemented."
One recommendation in the city's 12-step plan is to increase shelter bed capacity by working with existing shelters.
"Utilize current bed capacity to 100% and add 136 more bed capacity as needed in the existing four (4) shelter facilities in year one by responding to the changing need in number of beds based on demographic trends," a document of the plan from the city states.
Here are the other recommendations outlined in the city's plan (excluding recommendation No. 4):
- Recommendation No. 1 - Identify a point person within the mayor's office to oversee this plan
- Recommendation No. 2 - Expand and improve the homeless management data collection system (HMIS)
- Recommendation No. 3 - Increase homeless outreach teams to ensure that all parts of Duval County are covered daily and nightly
- Recommendation No. 5 - Every shelter enters bed availability daily into 'Client Track' (HMIS)
- Recommendation No. 6 - Develop "No Wrong Door" (all doors open) strategy for coordinated intake
- Recommendation No. 7 - City of Jacksonville will contract with providers for housing focused case management support for low barrier shelter and non-congregate shelter
- Recommendation No. 8 - City of Jacksonville to contract with hotels to secure up to 200 non-congregate shelter beds
- Recommendation No. 9 - City of Jacksonville will contract with developer to create a non-congregate, low barrier bridge shelter village (container/"ModPod") for a pilot of 100 beds located adjacent to the Urban Rest Stop or another location as determined by HB #1365
- Recommendation No. 10 - All shelters, in partnership, develop a 24/7 intake plan for staff and policies
- Recommendation No. 11 - City of Jacksonville to expand the Homeward Bound Program
- Recommendation No. 12 - Expand and increase Permanent Supporting Housing (PSH) Programs
"This 2024 investment will ensure that Jacksonville not only addresses homelessness and the newly enacted state law (HB #1365), this year as required, but will continue to invest in mitigating homelessness through incorporating the rest of the five-year strategic plan in the years ahead," the document states.