Leaders of the Putnam County Caring Coalition told the Palatka City Commission the coalition’s temporary overnight safe-space program for people experiencing homelessness will end Sept. 27 unless a new site and funding are secured.

The coalition’s executive director, Joanna Mitchell, said the program serves 16 to 20 overnight guests and also provides limited day services, outreach and referrals. Mitchell said the organization has raised about $80,000 in donations this year and has partnered with local medical and mental-health providers to connect guests to services. She said a magistrate has required the coalition to suspend the existing shelter site and that the coalition must identify an alternative within about 30 days.

City response and potential city-owned site: City staff told the commission they have identified a city-owned property — the Willard Cooper Building on South 13th Street — that is zoned for the use but would require improvements, including fire suppression and alarm upgrades. Staff estimated the fire-suppression and alarm work alone at roughly $130,000. The city manager said the building had recently received maintenance (roof work and grounds), but additional work and funding would be required to serve as a temporary shelter.

Funding options and county discussions: Commissioners and staff discussed potential use of ARPA funds; staff said about $100,000 in ARPA had been earmarked to assist with homelessness projects. Mitchell said the coalition applied to multiple Continuum of Care grants, received some operational awards but was unsuccessful for larger building grants; coalition leaders said they scored in the high 70s on one application. Mitchell and commissioners agreed that county support would be critical; commissioners said they had met county officials and were told the county was unwilling to commit financial assistance for the proposed Cooper Building use.

Commissioner concerns and next steps: Commissioners expressed concerns about siting a shelter near housing, day cares, parks and residential areas and warned about unintended consequences if Palatka becomes a sole refuge for county-wide unhoused populations. Several commissioners urged the city to look for alternative sites outside residential-adjacent locations and to pursue partnerships with the county and housing authority. Staff agreed to continue evaluating city-owned properties, to identify required upgrades and costs for any candidate building, and to discuss funding timing and limitations with the commission.

Why it matters: The coalition said its overnight program reduces public-safety incidents and emergency calls by providing a supervised place for people who otherwise might sleep in public spaces. The city will have to act quickly because the coalition said its current site must stop operations Sept. 27.