ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A homeless encampment behind Publix on Wildwood Drive is receiving attention from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, highlighting how local organizations and law enforcement are addressing homelessness in the area.
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Tents and backpacks line the area, creating a makeshift walkway that leads into the woods on Wildwood Drive.
Judith Dembowski, executive director of St. Augustine Society Inc., shared insights into the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness.
“Absolutely, everyone’s story is different,” she said.
Last year, the St. Augustine Society Inc. helped 250 people transition off the streets, some of whom were living in encampments like the one behind Publix.
“The overarching story is that we need more housing,” Dembowski said. “Our street outreach team picked up a mom with three adolescents who were living in a storage unit just three weeks ago.”
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She highlighted the struggles of young adults, stating that among those aged 18 to 24, 68 individuals are in their program, with 60 actively working but lacking stable housing.
“It’s hard to live here. It’s hard to afford to live here,” Dembowski said.
The encampment is also being monitored by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Mike Clark leads the reentry and outreach program.
“What we do from reentry and outreach is go and address that, see if there are homeless individuals in that camp, and offer them opportunities to get off the streets,” Clark said.
This includes programs like Operation New Hope, transitional housing, and substance abuse treatment. Clark said that while they have not yet made contact with the individuals living in the encampment, they are committed to following up and providing assistance.
“I’m trying to keep you from coming to jail. That’s our objective. We don’t want you to come to jail,” he said, noting that many individuals end up incarcerated for minor offenses like trespassing.
He further explained the housing challenges in St. Augustine.
“You’re getting somebody a job for $18 an hour, they may not afford the rent in St. Johns County,” he said.
Both Clark and Dembowski are dedicated to helping those in need and cleaning up areas like the encampment.
“Homelessness is more than just what you’re seeing on the street corner. It is a much bigger issue,” Clark said.
According to Northeast Florida Realtors, the median sales price for a home in St. Johns County exceeds $500,000, while the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is around $1,400, as reported by Apartments.com.
