TaskForce News

MEDIA NOTICE: All press inquiries should be emailed to PIO@taskforceoutreach.org. 

January 28

North Central Florida Annual Point-in-Time Count Begins

North Central Florida –  The North Central Florida Continuum of Care (CoC) is set to commence the 2025 Annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count, an initiative aimed at documenting and understanding the scope of homelessness across the region. This year’s PIT will take place from January 28th through January 30th, operating daily between 5:30 AM and 10:00 PM at various locations across Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Putnam Counties. 

 

The PIT Count is part of a nationwide effort mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and executed by local CoCs. Over three days, 130 trained volunteers, along with CoC staff and public safety personnel, will engage with individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Using a survey tool, they will collect a wide range of data. The findings will be compiled into a comprehensive public report to inform policy enhancements and improve service efforts.

 

"The Point-in-Time Count is more than just a data collection effort—it’s a powerful opportunity to engage with our community and understand the challenges faced by individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Together, we can use this knowledge to drive meaningful solutions and create pathways to housing stability for everyone in our community." -Keanna Johnson, CoC Director


November 18, 2024 

The North Central Florida Continuum of Care Awards $291,473 in Grants to Expand Emergency Shelter Capacity in Alachua, Bradford and Putnam Counties

Gainesville, Florida  – The TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness is pleased to announce the award of $291,473 in grant funding to three North Central Florida nonprofit organizations. These funds have been allocated in direct response to Florida Statute 125.0231 (House Bill 1365) and are dedicated to addressing the critical issue of unsheltered homelessness by expanding emergency shelter capacity in the region.

Through this funding, 40 emergency shelter beds will be supported across Alachua, Bradford, and Putnam Counties, providing essential resources to individuals and families in crisis:

  • GRACE Marketplace in Alachua County will implement an already planned 20-bed emergency shelter project for individuals
  • Family Promise in Bradford County will establish a new 12-bed shelter specifically for families with children experiencing homelessness.
  • Lee Conlee House in Putnam County will construct 8 new shelter beds dedicated to survivors of domestic violence


All shelter beds funded by this initiative represent new capacity for the community, addressing a shortage of emergency housing options. This expansion supports the region’s coordinated efforts to provide immediate and critical shelter services to those most in need.


“Unsheltered homelessness remains one of the most pressing challenges our communities face,” said Claudia Tuck, LCSW, Director of Alachua County Community Support Services and Chair of the CoC Leadership Council. “These grants reflect a tangible step forward in ensuring that individuals and families have a safe place to stay while working toward housing. We are honored to partner with our emergency shelter providers in this critical endeavor.”


About TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness

TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness serves as the Keys to Home Continuum of Care (CoC) Lead Agency for Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Putnam Counties. Through our commitment to ending homelessness in the community, we oversee the homeless response system funding and strategy in these counties and connect individuals experiencing homelessness with information and resources. Visit www.keystohome.org to learn more about the CoC.

July 30, 2024

TaskForce Announces 2024-2025 Continuum of Care Grant Awards for North Central Florida 

GAINESVILLE, FL – TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness (TaskForce) is pleased to announce the allocation of $776,588.58 in grant awards for the 2024-2025 Florida Department of Children and Families funding cycle. These funds will support eight local non-profit organizations committed to delivering essential services that address homelessness throughout Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Putnam counties. The awarded grants will enable critical services such as homeless prevention (rental and mortgage assistance), rapid rehousing, emergency shelter, diversion programs, case management, and other crucial support services.


Organizations and Grant Awards:

Another Way, Inc. - $35,000.00

Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry, Inc. (Grace Marketplace) - $193,300.00

Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. - $55,776.80 (Alachua County)  / $142,005.70 (Putnam County)  - $197,782.50

Family Promise of Gainesville Florida, Inc. - $150,800.00

Lee Conlee House, Inc.  - $19,025.00

Neighborhood Housing and Community Development Corporation - $64,398.08

Peaceful Paths, Inc -. $25,000.00

St. Francis House, Inc.  - $91,283.00 


These grant awards are part of the CoC Leadership Council’s ongoing commitment to supporting comprehensive and innovative solutions to address homelessness. Additional awards totaling $688,507.00 are also planned to be issued to three non-profits this year for permanent housing and domestic violence services through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development collaborative application. The entirety of this funding will enable these organizations to expand essential services to individuals and families in need. For more information, visit www.keystohome.org. 


About the Keys to Home Continuum of Care 

The Keys to Home Continuum of Care program, proudly provided by TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness as of July 1st, is dedicated to reducing and ending homelessness in Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Putnam counties. Through collaborative partnerships with the community, we strive to provide comprehensive support and innovative solutions to those experiencing homelessness. 


July 25th, 2024

Taskforce Reports Significant Public Taxpayer Savings From Residential Stability Coordination Program

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL, July 25th, 2024 — TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness has released the findings from an analysis of its Residential Stability Coordination (RSC) Program clients served during the past fiscal year. The analysis, which focused on a limited set of public services and risk elements from a standard intake assessment tool, reveals substantial cost savings for public taxpayers of $28,985.54 per person per year. 


Background: 

The TaskForce RSC program is funded by the Florida Department of Children and Families and administered by the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, to effectively shorten the gap in housing services for people experiencing homelessness with severe and persistent mental health challenges. Its primary objective is to help participants regain permanent housing stability. 


The program provides housing navigation and supportive services, including transportation, linkage to behavioral and physical health services, mail services, laundry services, meal services, move-in costs, and more. It serves individuals and families experiencing unsheltered homelessness or those at imminent risk, including those approaching discharge from state-funded treatment programs. Additionally, the program collaborates with law enforcement and fire-rescue agencies to identify unsheltered individuals in need of stabilization services.


Untreated mental health challenges among individuals experiencing housing instability pose a significant cost burden on public resources. The analysis considered public cost areas such as: 

  • ER visits without specialist care 
  • Ambulance transportation 
  • Inpatient medical stays 
  • Police calls for service 
  • Overnight jail stays 
  • Crisis services 
  • Public defender services 
  • Risk-related HIV treatment from unprotected sex 


Key Findings: 

Each client connected to the TaskForce's RSC services is expected to save public taxpayers an estimated minimum of $28,985.54 per year, per individual served. The cumulative savings for public taxpayers in 2024 is estimated to already be at $463,768.68, achieved only by helping this small group of participants gain housing stability during the last fiscal year. In stark contrast, the estimated one-time cost to end homelessness for each participant is $2,755.55.


If you are experiencing housing instability in Broward County, you can call the Homeless Helpline at 954-563-HELP (4357).


Contributors:

  • Jacob Torner, Vice President of Programs
  • Karina Ceballos, Data Coordinator
  • Erica Dorsett, Program Administrator
  • Camille Eisenmann, Director of Housing
  • Leon Upshaw, Residential Stability Coordinator
  • Jessie Yao, Residential Stability Coordinator
  • William King, Director of Housing and SOAR (Broward Behavioral Health Coalition)


June 26th, 2024

TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness Names New Director for Keys to Home Continuum of Care 

GAINESVILLE, FL – The Keys to Home Continuum of Care (CoC) is proud to announce the selection of Michael Blessing as its new CoC Director. In his role, Michael will collaborate with community leaders, businesses, and resource providers to address homelessness through strategic partnerships and innovative solutions. 


Prior to joining Keys to Home, Michael was a Regional Director for the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health at the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). In this role, he oversaw various substance use and mental health programmatic initiatives that integrated supportive housing, care coordination, and system of care oversight. Before being appointed to his position at DCF, Michael was instrumental in founding and leading the Department of Housing at LSF Health Systems. During his tenure as Director of Housing at LSF, Michael served on the Keys to Home Governance Board and held the position of CoC Board Chairman. Michael is an alumnus of Oak Hall School in Gainesville. He earned both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Florida. 


"We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the TaskForce as we prepare to assume responsibility of the Keys to Home Continuum of Care," said Jacob Torner, Vice President of Programs for the TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness. "His dedication to data-driven approaches coupled with his comprehensive understanding of housing interventions and mental health challenges make him the perfect fit for this role. We are confident that Michael will advance our efforts to reduce and end homelessness in the North Central Florida community." 

For more information about the Keys to Home Continuum of Care and our initiatives, please visit www.keystohome.org. 


About the Keys to Home Continuum of Care 

The Keys to Home Continuum of Care, proudly provided by TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness as of July 1st, is dedicated to reducing and ending homelessness in Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Putnam counties. Through collaborative partnerships with the community, we strive to provide comprehensive support and innovative solutions to those experiencing homelessness.


April 17th, 2024

TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness Named New Continuum of Care Lead Agency in North Central Florida

GAINESVILLE, FL – The TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness (TaskForce), a Florida nonprofit organization founded in 2003 dedicated to ending homelessness, is honored to announce its selection as the new Continuum of Care (CoC) Lead Agency for North Central Florida, encompassing five Florida counties known as the “Keys to Home FL-508 Region”. The transition process has begun and takes full effect on July 1st, 2024, following a unanimous decision by CoC members during an April 15th vote. United Way of North Central Florida will continue to serve in its role as current Lead Agency until the transition process is complete. "We are excited to partner with TaskForce and look forward to building a strong collaboration in service to our community," said Amber Miller, President and CEO, United Way of North Central Florida.


As the new Lead Agency, the TaskForce will expand its existing efforts to oversee HUD and DCF funding for the coordination of services and resource allocation aimed at preventing and ultimately ending homelessness within the region. The organization will work closely with CoC service providers, local governments, other non-profits, and community stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of existing programs, introduce supportive and innovative solutions, and ensure that resources are utilized efficiently to serve those in need. "Being selected as the Continuum of Care Lead Agency is not just an honor; it is a pivotal responsibility that we accept with determination and humility," said Mikal Cartier, CEO, TaskForce.


The organization’s Vice President of Programs will work closely with the local community to hire a new CoC Director and a cabinet of professional staff. "This designation as Lead Agency empowers us to lead the charge in transforming the landscape of homelessness in North Central Florida. We are excited to collaborate with United Way, the CoC Leadership Council, and the dedicated service providers throughout the region. Our mission is clear—to ensure that every individual and family in the community has access to the critical support they need to regain stability and dignity. With House Bill 1365 signed by the Governor, there could not be a more appropriate time for us to step in than right now," said Jacob Torner, Vice President of Programs, TaskForce.


The TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness has outlined four initial priorities for its tenure as the CoC Lead Agency, including:

  • Enhancing Coordination: Improving communication and collaboration among service providers in all counties to streamline access to CoC programs.
  • Data-Driven Strategies: Leveraging data to inform policymaking and the allocation of resources while ensuring interventions are measured and effective.
  • Community Engagement: Increasing community involvement and awareness to foster a supportive environment for ending homelessness that includes input from all community members.
  • Sustainable Solutions: Focusing on long-term strategies that address the root causes of homelessness, including affordable housing and healthcare.


The organization also plans to launch a series of community forums and stakeholder meetings in the coming months to gather input and strengthen community ties. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to empower service providers while enhancing transparency and public participation in the CoC's efforts. With the unanimous endorsement by the CoC members and a strategic roadmap in place, the TaskForce is set to begin its journey as the new Continuum of Care Lead Agency for North Central Florida.


For more information, follow updates on www.keystohome.org.


January 16th, 2024

TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness Expands Collaboration with Broward County for Comprehensive Outreach, Housing and Mental Health Services


FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — In a groundbreaking initiative to address the critical needs of residents experiencing homelessness, the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, Broward County Human Services Department, and Broward County Transportation Department have expanded collaboration with TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness to launch a program aimed at enhancing access to critical services for people using and living within the transportation system. This effort truly employs innovative strategies to provide more immediate support and resources.


Key Features of the Pilot Initiative:

Comprehensive Outreach: The joint efforts will focus on identifying and engaging individuals experiencing homelessness in and around transit terminals, benches, properties and buses. A dedicated outreach team will connect with these individuals and assess their unique needs to link them with the most appropriate resources.

Housing Solutions: TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness, in coordination with Broward County Human Services and other providers, will work towards providing housing solutions tailored to the specific circumstances of those identified during outreach efforts. This may include transitional housing, temporary shelter, and/or permanent housing options. Broward County has committed to providing ten (10) ongoing permanent housing subsidies with case management services for participants of this initiative.

Mental Health and Substance Use Professionals: Recognizing the critical intersection of homelessness and mental health, the collaboration incorporates licensed mental health professionals from the TaskForce team who will work on buses and at the transit terminals to offer support, clinical interventions and resources to individuals struggling with mental health challenges.


It's important to note that this pilot program represents just a small part of the comprehensive plan for continuous quality improvement and accessibility at TaskForce. The organization’s dedication to improving the quality of life for vulnerable community members remains steadfast and is working collectively toward a future where homelessness no longer occurs in the community. If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness in Broward County, you can call the helpline at (954) 563-HELP (4357). Systems. During his tenure as Director of Housing at LSF, Michael served on the Keys to Home Governance Board and held the position of CoC Board Chairman. Michael is an alumnus of Oak Hall School in Gainesville. He earned both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Florida. 



"We are thrilled to welcome Michael to the TaskForce as we prepare to assume responsibility of the Keys to Home Continuum of Care," said Jacob Torner, Vice President of Programs for the TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness. "His dedication to data-driven approaches coupled with his comprehensive understanding of housing interventions and mental health challenges make him the perfect fit for this role. We are confident that Michael will advance our efforts to reduce and end homelessness in the North Central Florida community." 

For more information about the Keys to Home Continuum of Care and our initiatives, please visit www.keystohome.org. 



About the Keys to Home Continuum of Care 

The Keys to Home Continuum of Care, proudly provided by TaskForce Fore Ending Homelessness as of July 1st, is dedicated to reducing and ending homelessness in Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Putnam counties. Through collaborative partnerships with the community, we strive to provide comprehensive support and innovative solutions to those experiencing homelessness.


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