While Jacksonville still has a long row to hoe, it has made substantial gains in dealing with homelessness as opposed to the past…including better awareness through bridging the Digital Divide.  But is it enough?

Non-profits throughout Northeast Florida regularly fail to think ‘outside the box’ when it comes to collaboration, networking, and transparency due to each agency fighting for it’s own slice of the pie of funding sources available.  In the last six years many additional agencies have either ‘popped’ up on the scene or increased exponentially in staff and maintenance overhead cost.

Should funding sources take closer looks at input and output amounts when it comes to supporting agencies?  Do ten people at one agency individually provide equal or more support than two people in smaller ones…and should this be considered during a time when the entire country is trimming fat?

You can take your birds and money to their Salvation Army Towers Memorial Social Services Center, located at 900 W. Adams St. Their mailing address for checks to Salvation Army of Northeast Florida, P.O Box 52508 Jacksonville, Florida 32201.

Last year while it ‘was’ showcased and featured by local media, some publications chose to do so at the last minute online occurred on December 20th.

One of the biggest barriers homeless people have is time management, whether they’re at stages of mere survival, transitioning, or leaving the homeless experience.

You’ve got a chance now of penciling in your calendars over a month in advance if you ‘really’ want to participate or attend.  Sorry, we don’t have an iPhone app for it yet…but we’re working on it!

It was interesting I found this due to recent developments regarding the conflicting standards and definitions that our Federal Government has towards people experiencing homelessness. It was just in 2008 I confronted the business I was directing to be more proactive and asking a mere additional twelve questions during ‘homeless counts’ to discern if people locally were actually ‘hard sleeping’ or couch surfing…typical annual counts are only interested in providing input/support regarding the Housing and Urban Development Agency’s definition and criteria.

When they had the chance to collect the data for conclusive disclosure for present and future needs, they weren’t interested…until they could get their own slice of someone’s pie. To me that wasn’t serving the needs of the community, it was serving the needs of the business.

I encourage everyone to read this account and perspective, and thanks again, Theresa.

Taliaferro Hall, St. John’s Cathedral, 256 E Church St, Jacksonville, FL 32202

One of the sections of Jacksonville’s population is getting their time at the microphone this week.

Controversy runs rampant when talking about this city’s unaccompanied youth. Between those trying to serve in a system binding their attempts to the section of this demographic resorting to criminal acts, PR and spin is for the most part has always been sided: for the City, for the service providers, or the businesses trying to attract dollars.

And it’s about time another version got it’s time.

While the air may be light, the fact is teens aging out of services is on the top of Florida crimes. Kids selling their bodies for a meal, out of convenience for a place to sleep at night, for the drugs to escape the nightmare cycle they can’t get out of and nobody’s there to help.

Donations of coffee are much appreciated and will benefit the St. John’s Cathedral coffee service to the homeless.

Mission House Inc.
800 Shetter Ave, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250, (904) 241-6767

Montel Williams’ prescription help bus is rolling into town Friday to help those who are uninsured and having financial difficulties.

The “Help is Here Express” will pull into the Mission House Inc. on Nov. 20, and help area residents see if they qualify for free or nearly free prescription medications from 10 am to 12 pm. The bus is equipped with specialists to assist in determining eligibility. The event is free and open to the public.   http://www.pparx.org/news_and_media/express_bus/bus_schedule.

Mission House is a partner volunteer health clinic with We Care Jacksonville, which is coordinating the effort.

1st presentation of the Face of Homeless Speakers’ Bureau

Congratulations to Tamara Patton working with ESHC, NCH, and some of the best advocates to put this together with such short notice!

Please click the pic’ for more information.

Of course, that’s not what happened…but it’s that kind of spin that keeps our critics glued to their monitors!

Actually, the site was never gone.  There’s been tons of things going on in the background regarding growth, development, and getting rid of a pesky gerbil that was running rampant in the server.

Since December 2004 when it first came online, the site relied on one person to carry it through to present.  Over the course of five years and much advocacy, the following have or are about to occur shortly:

• Selection of a Board of Directors
• Retaining 501c status through a partner non-profit
• Retaining a Publishing Editor who’ll handle the site’s ‘front end’ as well as recruitment and retention of aspiring content writers
• Developing and refining it’s goals of peer advocacy for Jacksonville residents experiencing homelessness and mental illness
• Continued partnering with other non-profits to promote and advocate for service providers meeting consumer’s needs and expectations

One consumer is no different than another when they’re both residents of Jacksonville.  However in many cases those experiencing homelessness don’t in all situations receive similiar treatment or consideration.

Whether it’s from the bottom rung at a meal line to the top point of purchasing a home, it’s our intention to break barriers.

Thanks for the well wishes many of you have given through these last years. Without the support, respect, and assistance many of you have provided this wouldn’t be possible to pull off to this point.

…and it’ll keep getting better.

Again, thank you.

JohnC
Founder
Homelessinjax.com