JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Starting Monday, the city of Jacksonville began moving people who are experiencing homelessness into hotels. The outreach has started at a homeless encampment on city property downtown at Union and Jefferson streets. The program is in collaboration with the city, Sulzbacher Center, Mental Health Resource Center, Changing Homelessness, Downtown Vision and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. “Unfortunately, due to COVID, we are seeing an increase in street homelessness,” Cindy Funkhouser, CEO of Sulzbacher said on “The Morning Show” Saturday. “It shows that people do care and we are a city that’s attempting to show that we care about everybody equally.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Friday morning in an open field just west of downtown, dozens of Jacksonville’s homeless took what could be the first step in finding a permanent home. In addition to housing, the program also pays for food, and even mental health help. A Jacksonville spokeswoman told News4Jax the first 53 participants will be taken to extended-stay hotels, where rapid rehousing specialists will help them find a permanent home, a job and even mental health help. The first people selected will be moved into their hotels starting Monday. “It shows that people do care and we are a city that’s attempting to show that we care about everybody equally.