The CEO of City Rescue Mission will spend 24 hours sitting on a bench in Jacksonville in an effort to create authentic, open dialogue about the issue of homelessness.
CEO Paul Stasi started his mission sitting on a bench at 234 West State Street at 3 p.m. on Thursday and will end it on Friday at 3 p.m., while livestreaming on YouTube.
Stasi has been actively involved with the last several mayors addressing homelessness in Jacksonville.
Two hours in, and Stasi said he was pumped to continue.
“I’ve had some great interviews with other service providers that we work so closely with here in Jacksonville,” he said.
CRM provides approximately 90,000 nights of care and 250,000 meals per year. In March, CRM added more beds to its facilities to better serve those in need.
Stasi has expressed support for a recent shift in federal policy, referencing President Donald Trump’s executive order issued in July aimed at ending “housing first” policies.
Stasi called the order a “philosophical shift” that aligns with what he has believed in for a long time to help people experiencing homelessness.
“The shift is to go to move more toward what we’ve been doing the whole time, offering comprehensive services through shelter care, 24-hour shelter care, transitional housing for anyone who needs transitional housing, residential recovery services, workforce development,” he said.
He said the new approach, which focuses on civil commitment and treatment for those with mental illness and addiction, is a big help in the effort to address homelessness.
CRM said the Conversations on a Bench initiative will create a platform for “honest, heart-level dialogue about homelessness, addiction, and mental health.”
“We’re part of a national live stream, Citygate network, and there are over 70 rescue missions all over the country that are on with us right now doing the same thing that we’re doing,” he said.
“I invite anyone—community leaders, Mission guests, or the general public—to come and talk with me. Let’s ask the tough questions, share the real stories, and start finding real solutions together.”
You can stop by the bench in person or submit questions for Stasi to answer on the YouTube stream.
The event will also be shared across CRM’s Facebook (@City Rescue Mission) and Instagram (@Cityrescuemissionjax) pages, allowing the community to join the conversation from anywhere.
Conversations on a Bench has become a national movement to rehumanize those who too often remain unseen, CRM said.