Pensacola homeless task force moves forward

Pensacola is preparing for a change when it comes to homelessness, including reducing the number of homeless people in Northwest Florida by 25% by 2025 and preparing for a new law banning camping on public property. At the same time, people working with Pensacola’s homeless community say they’re making progress in helping those who need help getting back on their feet.

Members of the Homelessness Reduction Task Force met Wednesday to share what’s working and what’s not in their efforts to address what many say remains a growing problem in the face of soaring inflationary costs and an affordable housing crisis.

More than a dozen organizations were represented, ranging from nonprofits that provide health care and legal services to groups that provide help with jobs and housing.

Reducing homelessness by 25% by 2025 remains a top priority and Connie Bookman, founder of the Homelessness Reduction Task Force, believes they can “crush” that goal by building on what works, such as increased collaboration and communication between service providers.

“First and foremost is increasing the use of the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS),” Bookman said. “It’s a database that’s universally shared within agencies, so that when a homeless person comes to an agency, they can input the data and then we can track what resources they’re using and what they need. We’re going to work more closely with larger employers to address their specific workforce needs and then we’re going to match those needs with people who are under case management.”

Attendees addressed a range of topics, from what programs are working to areas that need more work, such as helping campers at Pensacola’s largest and oldest homeless camp, which will move off county property at the end of the year, with a tentative target of Dec. 2.

An estimated 150 campers live in the wooded area near the 4300 block of N. Palafox St., which was once a neighborhood that was razed due to contamination from the Escambia Wood Treating Company superfund site next door. Campers can no longer stay here because the land is contaminated. They are planning a series of events to help make the transition as smooth as possible and get those who want to get off the streets and into housing and/or programming or other safe alternatives.

Beggs Lane Campsite Closure: After 20 years, Escambia County plans to move homeless people from Beggs Lane encampment in Brent

“We’re hoping that through this camping initiative that we’re trying to put in place, we can get as many of them out of the woods as possible, but we know that’s not entirely possible,” said Liz Kissel, Escambia government liaison. “The other thing we’re looking at is possibly not the county or the city, but a nonprofit of some sort, if they could get a piece of land, so they could open it up (to campers).”

Escambia County has created new programs like Real Change to help create more opportunities for the community to engage with and provide assistance to people who are homeless for a variety of reasons. Mayor D.C. Reeves said the City of Pensacola is also committed to finding a balance between helping people who are homeless or on the verge of homelessness, with the need for businesses and residents who want a vibrant community and downtown.

Not only does the city have a community response team to work with homeless people on an individual basis, but the mayor is also injecting $1 million into the community for transitional housing. Organizations will have the opportunity to tap into those funds and build temporary tiny homes to help house people in need.

“I think this is the most complex issue facing any mayor in the United States of America,” Reeves said. “For us all to come together in collaboration, to be on the same page, to inspire each other, to share information, I think we should be proud as a community of some of the steps that have been taken.”

Pensacola’s lead agency for homelessness, Opening Doors of Northwest Florida, spoke about the progress the Continuum of Care organization has made since last year, when U.S. Interagency Council on the Homeless Regional Advisor Joe Savage recommended changes. He visited Pensacola and assessed Opening Doors and the area’s approach to addressing homelessness in general.

Opening Doors progresses: Pensacola’s lead agency for the homeless is implementing changes. Why it matters

Savage recommended that Opening Doors separate its nonprofit service from its role in managing federal money as an official CoC, saying that organizations that align with the federal strategic plan and its priorities will likely have an easier path to federal funding. While still a work in progress, Opening Doors has made changes to that end and says it is increasing membership and cooperation among service providers.

Those who attended agreed that there is still much work to be done, but they hope that greater cooperation and communication will help them make a difference.

Breaking

Pensacola homeless task force moves forward

ByS. Jacob

By S. Jacob

Related Post

Wild Card Standings, American League and National League Seeds

Sunday Bruch star Tim Lovejoy in awkward blunder as guest forced to st | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

GOP braces for government funding chaos as Republican rebels riot ahead of vote

You missed

Wild Card Standings, American League and National League Seeds

Sunday Bruch star Tim Lovejoy in awkward blunder as guest forced to st | TV & Radio | Showbiz & TV

GOP braces for government funding chaos as Republican rebels riot ahead of vote

Postseason scenario: Phillies can grab first-round bye this week