The Issue of Homelessness and The Outreach Programs in Palm Beach County, Florida

Homelessness is a difficult issue to resolve and it requires involvement from a number of service providers working together to meet the needs of those individuals and families, creating success plans that will lead to the eventual goal of ending homelessness. The purpose of the homeless shelters and services program is to help those individuals who are homeless, require a continual care, intake, emergency shelter, ongoing assessment, support services and even those in need of transitional housing. The goal and success of the program is measured by those gaining or regaining financial and economic self-sufficiency. The homeless program initiated in Palm Beach County, Florida, is broken down into three “Homeless Outreach Teams”, each team consisting of employees from the Division of Human Services, CARP (Comprehensive Alcoholism Rehabilitation), a large non-profit alcohol and drug abuse agency, and The Jerome Golden Center. These teams coordinate together to complete ongoing assessments together or on an individual level. Those individuals who are involved in these outreach programs must be willing and able to work, remain sober and remain compliant with the mental health recommendations given.

On a recent survey conducted in January 2007, results came back indicating that there were 1,766 individuals who were homeless in Palm Beach County at any given time. There was also evidence through past estimates that there have been between 600 and 4,000 homeless individuals on any given day. Besides the “Homeless Outreach Teams (HOT)”, there are fourteen HUD (Housing and Urban Development agencies that help provide transitional and permanent supportive housing for these individuals under seventeen of their projects. In this same year, 2007, they helped support 727 homeless individuals and families by providing various housing needs with different lengths of time, providing basic necessity needs through food, clothing and transportation along with support systems, through case management and counseling aimed toward controlling substance abuse, aid toward mental health, employment success and life skills training to help become self-sufficient.

There are also a number of additional federal, state and local municipality agencies and facilities that have specific objectives toward preventive measures, assessments, emergency shelters, supportive housing, employment training, support services, life skills, healthcare, advocacy, bus passes and other emergency services and aide. This program allocated a total of $6.2 million dollars toward human services, housing community development and other community services toward the goal of preventing and homelessness and serving those homeless appropriately. Strategic planning has been implemented which outlines a ten year plan created by those members and representatives from the public sector, advocates, former homeless individuals, business interests and outside funders with an end goal to end homelessness.

Overall, there are many individuals, groups, agencies, advocates and outside supportive agencies that are working together to help prevent homelessness and support those currently in need of emergency care and other support measures. Palm Beach County has a very high response rate and strong support system that has been successful through its numerous allocations in funding, support programs and construction of housing to help numerous families. The implementation of the strategic advisory board and its advocates have laid down a successful plan and vision that has been developed and already adopted across the various facilities working toward reducing homelessness. There also has been many faith based religious groups consisting of churches, temples and mosques that combines their efforts with other human service agencies to provide emergency shelter, food and meals and other support services through an Interfaith Hospitality Network. There is seldom any single reason why a family or individual becomes homeless, but the risk increases with unemployment, mental illness, poor physical health, substance abuse, domestic violence and other economic issues making housing unaffordable. It is very encouraging for those in need that many support measures have been put in place for those living in Palm Beach County.

Cite this page