JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Friday that it will award the city of Jacksonville $1 million to help people who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness.
This funding is part of a larger initiative aimed at assisting individuals impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The goal is to help those displaced by the storms find shelter and access resources to prevent homelessness.
The funding will support emergency shelters, rapid re-housing, homelessness prevention assistance, and other supportive services.
In total, Florida will receive $14.1 million through this initiative, which is part of a fund set aside to address needs not covered by federal disaster relief programs.
The announcement comes as Florida enforces a new law banning people from sleeping in public. Since the law took effect, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) has issued 529 warnings, made 86 arrests, and issued 27 notices to appear.
To assist those affected, JSO has introduced the Homeward Bound program, which provides free bus tickets for people to travel home, along with other local resources to help individuals get back on their feet.