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Emergency Services & Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville, Inc. |
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Making a difference. |
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About Us |
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The ESHC first began in 1974 as an informal group of social service agencies and downtown religious leaders to discuss the issue of vagrancy downtown. The group became more formalized in 1980 in response to the creation of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which provides funding to communities to address homelessness through the provision of basic services, such as food, meals, shelter, and emergency financial assistance to prevent eviction and homelessness. The “Emergency Services Council” was created as a required local board to manage the funds in Duval County.
The grassroots nature of the Coalition has persisted over the years, with faith-based organizations uniting with non-profit and public organizations and customers to advocate on behalf of homeless and marginalized persons in our community, and to develop ways to better coordinate limited resources. For almost 30 years, the Coalition has retained a strong membership and vision for our community – a community in which all persons can attain a sufficient income, decent and affordable housing, and good health care. The ESHC has been instrumental in developing critical programs that provide shelter, medical care and assistance to homeless persons throughout Duval County. Examples of the programs initiated by the Coalition are the I. M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, and the We Care clinics established to provide health care for homeless persons.
In addition to the advocacy role of the Coalition, the organization serves as the lead entity to oversee the allocation of approximately $5 Million in federal and state funding for homeless services. In its role as lead entity for federal and state programs, the ESHC prepares the Homeless Continuum of Care plan for Duval and Clay counties that establishes priorities for program development and funding. In June 2000 the ESHC became a formal nonprofit corporation, with an elected Board of Directors, which is responsible for policy setting, grant making and planning. The ESHC employs an Executive Director and an Administrative Assistant.
The Coalition continues to maintain its grassroots membership of approximately 70 organizational and individual members, or stakeholders. Members include the City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville University, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Duval County Public Schools and the Florida Department of Children and Families, as well as private agencies such as I. M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless, Catholic Charities Bureau, Clara White Mission, City Rescue Mission, Trinity Rescue Ministries, American Red Cross, Community Connections, the Salvation Army, Habijax, Hubbard House and United Way of Northeast Florida, to name a few. The Coalition membership meets monthly to network and address issues related to homelessness and chronic poverty.
The ESHC envisions a community in which all persons can attain a sufficient income, decent and affordable housing, and good health care. To accomplish this, the ESHC provides opportunities for service providers and community members including our customers, both homeless and formerly homeless individuals, to join together to address the needs of homeless persons and those at risk of homelessness. The ESHC holds to a specific set of guiding principles based on our Core Values:
¨ Dignity. Emergency services provided in the community will be accessible to all persons, culturally sensitive, non-judgmental, personalized, and respectful of a person’s right to privacy. ¨ Quality. Emergency services will be provided using a standard of care that will address the physical, emotional, mental, social, financial, and spiritual needs of persons living in crisis. ¨ Responsibility. Emergency services provided in the community will demonstrate a balance between the need for consumer choice and the unnecessary duplication of services. ¨ Accountability. Emergency services will be provided by agencies that are fiscally sound, carefully managed, and effective at achieving results in improving the lives of people in crisis. ¨ Equality. The ESHC advocates for a change in systems that create or contribute to crisis situations and supports individual rights. ¨ Inclusivity. The ESHC makes decisions by including consumers and other stakeholders. ¨ Community. The ESHC provides research and education for the community to decrease misconceptions about people living in crisis. |
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© The Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville, Inc |