Drop-In Center for the homeless: Poll

[sheclown]

thoughts?

[Ocklawaha]

I think you know how I'd vote on that poll, but I haven't yet. I'm thinking there needs to be an alternative to urban core, answer with one that is near all services, transportation and work or training resources... For example, Lane Avenue/Commonwealth? Talleyrand? Hecksher? Dennis? Beaver? Philips South?

OCKLAWAHA

[sheclown]

The services I am referring to are the over night shelters, SHANDS, Sulzbacher, the missions, Job Junction and etc.  Perhaps you'd be in agreement with moving out of the core as long as transportation issues were properly addressed? 

How would one get from the mission to the day center and back from Lane, for example?

[strider]

One issue that needs to be kept in mind when discussing moving the homeless services out of the urban core is that in many cases this urban core is their home.  Will they ignore the new services and stay here without them?  Is good transportation the answer to this issue?

I believe a very good argument could be made that to actually be successful to have the services relocated elsewhere, we must move the homeless and troubled here now not out, but up. To do less is to insure failure and to have the same issues we complain about still here but with nice new and seldom used facilities elsewhere.

[uptowngirl]

If downtown becomes successful would all the current services located here be able to afford to stay? It only makes sense (if we are to address the issue at all!) to start planning for a move to a more affordable area. Shands would remain an issue, but it has been my experience when the service is needs people will be taken by the police or firehouse.

[Dog Walker]

As a side note:  The management of the Main library has done a good job of dealing with the homeless population, IMHO.  They have reduced the behavior problems and don't allow big bundles to be brought in.  Anyone sleeping or disturbing the other library patrons is escorted out by security.

Tip of the hat to them for dealing with a tough situation.

[urbanlibertarian]

If COJ opens a drop-in center I'd bet it ends up in the vicinity of New Life, Clara White or Salvation Army in La Villa.

[billy]

Many state plumbing codes require that a place open for public business and use must provide accessible restrooms and drinking water.

[sheclown]

As long as there is no place provided, people without anywhere else to go will have to expose themselves, in public, to go to the bathroom.  Imagine, for one moment, what that does to a person...just how that dehumanizes a soul?

But it also dehumanizes a city. 

I would imagine if one weren't mentally ill before experiencing homelessness, one would become disturbed shortly afterward.

I believe that the business owners and the travelers to downtown are traumatized emotionally as well.  How do you enjoy your life while there is so much suffering and so many needs going unmet around you?

This is why, IMHO, a day-center is needed so badly.  Not only for the homeless, but for all of Jacksonville's citizens, who, at the very least, are having to helplessly watch this human tragedy before them.

Honestly, I don't care where it is, how it is, what it looks like.  It just needs to be.

[fsu813]

If your appearance is halfway decent, there are plenty of businesses and gov buildings downtown that have public bathrooms to use.

[sheclown]

If your appearance is halfway decent, there are plenty of businesses and gov buildings downtown that have public bathrooms to use.

Well...that's sort of a catch 22 isn't it?  How can you make your appearance halfway decent without access to bathroom facilities?

[fsu813]

"No there arent."

- i would disagree



"Well...that's sort of a catch 22 isn't it?  How can you make your appearance halfway decent without access to bathroom facilities?"

- a question for the many homeless that manage to do it.

[Miss Fixit]

There are certainly public restroom facilities downtown but many are in places that homeless would be unlikely to enter, such as the county courthouse.  The most accessible are those at the public library. A large number of complaints about the homeless downtown stem from their use of the public library as a substitute day facility.

We desperately need a day facility for the homeless. However, I certainly DO care where it is, how it is, and what it looks like.  The current situation downtown occurred largely because of failure to appropriately plan and site existing facilities.

[ESHC]

I am happy to see there is interest and discussion on this topic. The Emergency Services & Homeless Coalition is working on scheduling the next meeting about the drop in center/resource center.  Tentative date and time is March 3, 2:00 to 3:30. As soon as the room is booked I will post all the detail. 

This will be a working meeting where we will start to answer some basic questions like: What would a successful drop in center be in Jacksonville? How would be measure success? What resources are needed to be successful?

Please join us in person if you can!

[Dan B]

It looks like so far most people have voted

needs to be out of the urban core with transporation issues adequately addressed    15 (55.6%)

Perhaps Baymeadows? Atlantic and 9a?

There are plenty of entry level jobs, and transportation options, as well as entry level apartments in both of these locations. Seems a no-brainer to me.