Title
Temporary Emergency Homeless Assistance (B)
At the City Commission meetings of October 24, 2005 and November 14, 2005, the City Commission discussed the possibility of funding additional programs and services for the homeless. In addition, the steering committee and subcommittees that resulted from the homeless summit in spring 2005 will be coming forward shortly with recommendations for additional approaches, programs and services to assist the homeless. This joint meeting offers an opportunity for the City and County Commissions to discuss homelessness issues and programs.
Explanation
On March 31, 2005, Alachua County and the City of Gainesville held a Summit on Homelessness to lay the groundwork for creating a 10-year plan to end homelessness in Gainesville and Alachua County. Since June, six committees - Services, Health, Sustainable Housing, Law Enforcement, Faith-Based, and Finance - have assessed different aspects of homelessness in the community to arrive at recommendations for improving the delivery and level of services for the homeless. Working under the direction of a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from each of the working committees, plus other community participants, the groups have collectively focused on the mission adopted early in the planning process: "To provide appropriate services to return people to self-sufficiency and to foster an environment where homelessness is eradicated in Alachua County."
The Alachua County-City of Gainesville 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness will be introduced to the public at what is being called "Summit II" on December 1, 2005. It will then be presented to the City and County Commissions at a joint meeting on December 15, 2005.
The City funds a number of homeless facilities and programs. The City Commission has approved $70,310 in its FY 2005-06 CDBG and HOME budgets to support programs to assist the homeless through Gainesville Community Ministry, Interfaith Hospitali...
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