RESEARCH DIVISION
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
September 20, 2016
Lynwood Roberts Room
Ground Floor, City Hall
117 W. Duval Street
Attendance: Council Members: Sam Newby (Chair), Bill Gulliford (Vice Chair), Aaron Bowman, Anna Lopez Brosche, Tommy Hazouri, Joyce Morgan; Council Member Katrina Brown was excused; Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston; Assistant Council Auditor Kyle Billy; Jordan Elsbury, Administration; John J. Jackson, Yvonne Mitchell, Council Research Division; Legislative Assistant Philip Zamarron.
The Chairman called the special committee meeting to order at 9:50 a.m.
Dr. Kelli Wells, Director, Florida Department of Health/Duval County, commented on several reports and update material that she distributed. The reports included: Zika Update (8 cases in Duval County, all travel related; a total of 842 cases in the State of Florida); a Weekly Update on Surveillance Reports, 2015 Vital Statistic Report, Infant Mortality Awareness Month 2016, 2016 Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, World Heart Day, Upcoming Events; Duval County Epidemiology Surveillance Report; Area 4 STD Surveillance Report for Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau & Baker Counties; and AIDS Surveillance Report for Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau and Baker Counties.
Dr. Wells reported that Governor Scott has allocated additional funding in the efforts to curb the Zika Virus epidemic. He is still pressing the federal government for funding.
On the topic of Homelessness, the Committee heard from three presenters: Cindy Funkhouser, President & CEO of the Sulzbacher Center, David Ojeda, COO, Changing Homelessness, and Ju’Coby Pittman, CEO/President, Clara White Mission.
The presenters were provided with list of questions that the Committee wanted addressed;
1. What services are offered?
- Number of Individuals served daily?
- Is there any outreach done in or around Hemming Plaza to connect individuals with services?
- What do you see as the greatest need to assist and minimize the number of homeless persons in Jacksonville?
- What suggestions/recommendation do you have for the City Council, as a partner, in addressing homelessness?
- How beneficial would a Day Center be for the homeless population?
Ms. Funkhouser provided background information on the Sulzbacher Center.
The Center focuses on three major concerns for the homeless: housing, income & health care.
The Center provides 360 beds for men, women, children and Veterans.
The Center manages four HUD housing units and scattered housing.
The Center provides meals, daily showers, income/job training and job placement.
In the health care area, the Center provides the homeless with dental care, pediatric care, and mental health care.
The Center serves 775 homeless people on a daily basis; there are mobile outreach units, as well.
Ms. Funkhouser said that there is a case manager in Hemming Park every day.
The greatest needs of the homelesss are affordable housing and jobs.
She explained that 75% of the people in Hemming Park are not homeless but are there to socialize with friends.
Cities that are trying to resolve homelessness focus on affordable housing.
The Dog Park (pocket park), across the street from the Jacksonville Public Library’s Main Street entrance) attract more homeless than Hemming Park; a number of the homeless are there because they want to avoid crowds that are in Hemming Park.
Ms. Funkhouser characterized the JSO jail as de facto housing for the mentally ill homeless.
She reported that homeless children are often not in school; there are 2,100 homeless children in Jacksonville.
She saw the need for a homeless day center. One of the major faults of the previous day center was the fact that the homeless were going there solely to watch television and were not getting the necessary social services. The facility was too small to house the service provider agencies.
Ms. Funkhouser explained that the majority of the people in Hemming Park are not homeless.
David Ojede described affordable housing for the homeless as crucial to making people stable.
He remarked on the need to create income for the homeless. He, too, saw the need for a day center for the homeless.
Ju’Coby Pittman provided background information on the Clara White Mission, noting that it started as a soup kitchen.
The Mission addresses social issues in the community.
Today, the Mission is focused on training: the culinary arts, janitorial and job training.
Ms. Pittman characterized the goal of the Mission as providing a hand- up rather than a hand-out.
She wants to revisit the concept of a day center.
Ms. Pittman said that her staff and supporters are particularly proud of the Beaver Street Housing Center for veterans (Beaver Street Villas) that is funded by the VA and the City of Jacksonville.
There being no further business, the special meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m.
John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729
09.26.16
Posted: 4:00 p.m.