The Jacksonville Field Policy Management (FPM) and Community Planning Division (CPD) jointly coordinated seven major grant award presentations during the months of January and February 2006, to address the problems of homelessness and support emergency shelters. The comprehensive funding of $65,034,967 will support local homeless assistance, health and counseling services throughout Florida. Florida's Lt. Governor Toni Jennings accepted the ceremonial check for these funds at a Tallahassee-based announcement. Special events and meetings were used to make ceremonial check presentations in Jacksonville, Gainesville, St. Augustine (St. Johns County), Ft. Walton Beach, Pensacola, Tallahassee, and with the State of Florida. While most of the grant funding went to Continuum of Care organizations for continuing services to homeless families residing in communities across the State of Florida, Emergency Shelter Grants representing $6,982,221 of the total statewide funding, will support the emergency shelter needs of numerous Florida communities.

The Jacksonville Office took advantage of the travel opportunity to accomplish several Regional Goals by visiting with Congressional representatives in Jacksonville, Saint Augustine, Tallahassee, Ft. Walton Beach, and Pensacola, and to also discuss recent military Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC) decisions with Mayors and City Officials in affected communities. These meetings also included discussions on how to improve HUD and local community response to hurricanes and other natural disasters. A special meeting with State Emergency Management officials was held in Tallahassee to further coordinate activities in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season and to plan for the Governor's Hurricane Conference to be held May 8-12, 2006.

Field Director Nick Shelley (far right) awarded HUD's $4,008,572 in grant funding to support thirteen local homeless assistance, health and counseling services in Jacksonville and Clay County, FL. Executive Director, Wanda Lanier (center, grey suit) holds the check as Gary Causey, Director CPD looks on (far left).

Jacksonville Field Office Director Nick Shelley presents high lights from talking points on Continuum of Care funding for homelessness and emergency shelters.