Task Force Subcommittees
Monthly subcommittee meetings will spotlight the task-force progress and inventory existing services and gaps in local services that the task force members can bridge. These subcommittees meet once a month, bringing ideas and insights to the entire task force leadership for discussion and action. They are co-chaired by two local professional leaders with expertise in their respective fields.
Our Mission to Reduce Homelessness
Our Task Force will serve as a model for initiating conversations and collaboration at the local and state level. It is our goal that this effort gives partners the tools and resources needed for those on the ground to work across local agency “silos” and better leverage and align their resources, preventing duplication and making processes more efficient. By learning from one another, we will work to develop comprehensive strategies to end homelessness in Northwest Florida, and create lasting, systemic change.”
What the Community is Saying
Our Goals
Every January, Opening Doors, coordinates the Annual Point in Time (PIT) homeless census in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The 2020 census revealed an increase in the unsheltered homeless, the goals of the task force are to achieve the following goals in the two counties in 2021.
15% increase in shelter capacity for families and women
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15% increase in funding to providers of homeless services
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15% increase in funding to providers of homeless services
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15% increase in utilization of mental health and treatment services
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20% increase in Permanent Affordable Housing beds (50 additional)
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15% reduction in “homeless hot zones”
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10% reduction in E.R visits by the homeless populations
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10% reduction in court interaction by homeless persons
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Our Latest News
Homeless Reduction Task Force Northwest Florida
Mission and Goals
2021-2024
The Homeless Reduction Task Force of Northwest Florida was launched in June 2021 with a three year plan by which to maximize Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties’ existing infrastructure of homeless resources, improve streamlining of services and expand access to care. The Task Force will operate through seven subcommittees who are responsible for providing recommendations to assist in the development of a three-year strategic plan. This coordinated and unified plan will consist of specific tasks and measurable goals. Outcomes will be published monthly in the Pensacola News Journal in hopes to engage the community in this mission.
Each subcommittee is chaired by two community leaders who have a focus and passion for ending homelessness in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. The subcommittee members were drawn from Continuum of Care (CoC) provider organizations, local governments, individuals, and businesses. The subcommittees will report monthly to the Co-Chairs, Advisory Committee and the general CoC partnership.
THE WORK OF SUBCOMMITTEES WILL INCREASE:
-The community’s understanding of the causes and multiple solutions for reducing homelessness
-Collaboration and coordination of homeless prevention programs by taking an inventory of all current services and gaps in services
-Interagency communication and memorandums of understanding that will streamline our current system of referral and care
-Full utilization of services by those experiencing homelessness through an enhanced coordinated entry: a two county network with comprehensive case management of every homeless individual
–The use of Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) that is accessible to all partner agencies, allowing each to assess and refer efficiently across county and local boundaries and that measure well defined performance based outcomes
-Identification of research on applied science best practices to support treatment and intervention programs
-Identification of funding from private foundations, local, state and federal agencies for current and future service providers
-Identification of eligibility criteria for Social Security, Veterans Benefits and other Public Assistance