Project Re-Connect is Helping People

People are upset about the "homeless" situation in Pensacola.

Folks are camping in the woods, starting fires, doing drugs, panhandling, and engaging in antisocial activities that most find unsightly.

So folks want action.

The county has enacted an effective ordinance to prevent folks from creating distractions on the roadways and on road medians and islands in the county.  It was a well-written ordinance that allowed for sheriff's deputies to enforce it.  So the city duplicated it and enacted it there, too.  Word for word.

Now the county is giving homeless individuals one-way tickets out of our area.

It is called project reconnect.  

And it is working, and it is cost effective.  

We find folks who are homeless but who have families and/or support systems elsewhere, in their hometowns, or other places.  Once we confirm they have such support--we pay their one-way ticket back.  We have earmarked $30,000.00 for this program and have assisted DOZENS in getting back home.  And we have not even spent one third of the allocation in doing this.

Recently, commissioners were given this update from staff on this important initiative:

"So far, this program has relocated 38 homeless individuals to various location throughout the United States back to Family, Friends, and Supportive Housing.  We have spent $9,470.33 for those individuals out of the original $30,000 that the County allocated. In 2017 a study was completed and the average cost of long-term homelessness in Central Florida was $36,000 per year per person that was spent on inpatient hospitalizations, emergency room fees, incarceration and other systems associated with homelessness.  This means we have saved Escambia County taxpayers $1,368,000.00 a year by locating the 38 individuals back to other communities where they have a support system."

 Attached is the report and the “Real Change Project Reconnect Guidance” with additional information online at https://myescambia.com/american-rescue-plan/real-change.

See more, detailed information in the below graph:

County is Funding and Supports Real Change Project Re-Connect. What is It?

Project reconnect is a funded county program to help people who are here in the county and homeless.  This program will help such individuals reconnect with family and support services in their home town or home of origin, by providing one way tickets back home.  

There are requirments that must be met, but once support services or family at the destination are contacted and such loved-ones confirm they will assist their family member--we furnish one way tickets back!

Between this new program, our enhanced intersections/distractions ordinance, and the state's new tough law on homeless camps on county property---we are tackling the homelessness issue in the county head-on.  And it is past time for us to do it.

Read more about Project Re-Connect below:

Legislature Takes Strong Action on Homeless "Squatters"

By an 82-26 margin in the Florida House and a 27-12 margin in the U.S. Senate---the Florida legislature has officially passed tough, new restrictions on those who "squat" on public property.  The law will now head to Governor DeSantis' office--where it is widely anticipated he will sign it into law---as he has signaled this as a priority.  HB 1365 gives the roadmap, what is allowed, and what is unlawful for us to do.

This law, in some respects, pre-empts local governments in the homeless space by making it unlawful for persons to "camp" on public lands without authorization from a local government.  It also specifies that nearby affected citizens can sue the local governments if such governments fail to act on this law and tacitly allow such camping via inaction.

It really is a "no-brainer"---and it needed to happen.

Citizens are fed up and disgusted with what we see on our streets, and this legislation answers their collective angst over this activity all over the state.

The law requires local municipalites to remove unauthorized squatters, and provides a mechanism for such local governments to set aside public spaces for homeless folks to camp---provided such locations have security, sanitation provisions, provisions for mental health, job training, and other social services---and that such areas are cleared to operate by the state's Department of Children and Families.

The bill, upon being signed, goes into effect on October 1st of this year.

Although I am a local control guy----I do get it that sometimes the legislature will step over our authority and pre-empt us when a situation is not appropriately being handled by locals statewide.

This is an instance of that.

Interestingly---I lobbied my counterparts and staff STRENUOUSLY on this matter two and a half years ago after my office was inundated with citizen complaints on homeless blight, illegal conduct, litter, standing in roadways and causing distractions at intersections and theft.  Isaid to scale up the Satoshi Forest concept would be cost effective, would provide the unhoused with better, more sanitary and safe living spaces and mental health and other services, and improve our communities.

At that time, I suggested we identify a public property WAY OUT IN THE WOODS where we could provide a safe, secure, clean area for campers and where we could bring services to them while simulataneously keeping these homeless activities out of established neighborhoods.

Even the middle school students from CLA thought a homeless camping area----away from established neighborhoods (minute 13 of this video)----was the way to go!

Unfortunately--I did not receive support for the idea then.  It was essentially pooh-poohed.

But now a law has been passed that essentially URGES we do just what I and the students suggested years ago--with the State's blessing!

So maybe it is time to re-visit the concept once more and see where it goes now?

Because between what we have enacted with the roadway ordinance and now this state law--I do believe we can make some significant headway on this issue

Welcome to "CAMP" Beggs Lane

An email along with multiple pictures was sent to me yesterday by an individual who tries to assist with the homelessness issues in the Pensacola.

Apparently, these particular homeless folks are entrenched in their own individual areas of this land off of Beggs lane.  Camp fires, tents, busted-down RV's, Opened fire hydrant for water, and trash cans coming.

And this issue is NOT unique to Beggs lane and Jones swamp.  There are homeless camps in wooded lots throughout Pensacola and Escambia County--everyone now knows this.

So, this individual who sent this information is requesting onsite case management and other support services for the women and children and expectant mothers who also reside here along with homeless males.

Looks like a tent city to me.  Interesting that a tent city was my proposal for helping to manage this homelessness issue that is becoming legion in Escambia County--except I favored having this sort of a camp set up under controlled circumstances, with security, drug treatment, medical services, job training, feeding stations, and other wrap around services far away from town, out in the woods.  This way, services could be brought to them and they would not, in the meantime,  be infringing on the peace, quiet, tranquility, and security of existing neighborhoods.  Interesting this sort of a set up was also the solution brought to us by the students at Creative Learning Academy (Minute 13:00 of this video) when they requested to bring solutions to difficult county issues.....

Between this and the Jones Swamp campgrounds--this is starting to look like what I had envisioned albeit way too close in this instance to civilization....

From the email:

"Good afternoon I just want to give an update on the area of Beggs Lane to everyone in the county including John Johnson , the COC. We have successfully moved out permanently 10 people 

 Today we served our normal weekly meal serving more than 75 people During our serving, we noticed many many pregnant women, Families with young children, And many other disabled individuals, all eager to get off the streets. But are keep getting told no room at the shelters or programs. 

 I’m wondering, is there a way like we did underneath the I110 Bridge of getting service providers together and start visiting some of our local camps like the Beggs Lane and others that we are seeing in the news? As you witnessed many of them benefited from having on-site case management. We would be happy to be a part of this or to coordinate anything to get this off the ground so we can get these individuals into something more suitable. We have started much of the casework. 

 Many individuals here at this area are unable to use our public transportation due to their disabilities as well so having on site case, management and medical would be a beneficial for all. 

I was advised that the trash cans will be delivered this week as that is becoming also another health concern. The area has been built by the homeless individuals Into their own community. When coming on the land, you will see how each individual section has been laid out from those suffering addiction to those that are veterans down to women, children, families, and disabled. With the lack of beds in our area, I am asking for anyone’s help to place these individuals into something more suitable. 

I am going to attach some of the photos of the area. In one of the photos, you will also see the fire hydrant busted open where they are using the water. Is there anyway that we can actually get suitable water that does not have to look like it is in the picture?"

 

Concern Mounting over a Relocation of Homeless: Where Will They Go Next?

I've been contacted by a number of folks concerned about some signage being put up around a couple of lots where we know there are significant populations of homeless in campsites.

"I was given a heads up that they will begin trespassing people off of this property on Wednesday" said one concerned citizen, speaking about a privately owned lot in the vicinity of North Palafox street and Beggs Lane in Pensacola.

When I asked where these folks would go once removed, I was told "probably to jail if they don't leave.  Also, I don't know where they will go other than [the county's property] at Beggs Lane--which is already overflowing."

But then I was sent this picture, below, which seems to indicate we will be clearing out the county's property in that area as well.  My natural question is this--where will these folks go if removed?

The individual told me next-"This is going to make the situation much worse--these were posted today all along Beggs Lane...."