Officials report drop in downtown camps but say female shelter capacity remains constrained

Jacksonville officials told the City Council's DOGE special committee on Oct. 21 that coordinated enforcement, outreach and new emergency shelter contracts have reduced visible camping downtown but that gaps remain, especially for women’s shelter beds and daytime services.

Captain Parramore (PATH) said the PATH program began service Nov. 23, 2024. He reported that since inception the team “has encountered 1,558 clients” and “moved more than 500 clients to shelters.” Parramore said PATH is frequently called by JSO and JFRD at night when other shelters are full and that “all of our shelter beds are at full capacity daily.”

Lieutenant Nick Dimone of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office described the city’s camping ordinance, which took effect Oct. 1 and began a warning phase prior to enforcement. Dimone said the ordinance prohibits camping, sleeping or setting up lean-tos on public property and is a class B offense; he said penalties for violations include up to a $50 fine and 30 days in jail if a person is warned and then persists in camping. Dimone said officers use warnings and outreach to direct people toward services and that the goal is not arrests but to “get them into programs.”

City and nonprofit providers described operational constraints. Chief Jake Blanton (Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department) said the city is renewing three contracts for emergency shelter beds that together provide 110 beds: City Rescue Mission (26 beds), Trinity Rescue Mission (44 beds) and Salvation Army (40 beds). Blanton said the contracts are being finalized and that providers intend to invoice back to Oct. 1. He confirmed the 110 beds are at capacity.

Multiple presenters and council members identified a shortage of beds for single women. Parramore said PATH currently has “approximately 30 individuals that are currently on our standby list” and that the team has only 18 female beds available in some shelters; he said women are prioritized with children for available beds, leaving single women with limited options. Council members and staff discussed proposals to expand daytime services and daycare at shelter sites so people who leave in the morning are not forced to remain on the street during the day.

Officials gave additional program details and operational metrics. The JSO video shown to the committee said more than 400 arrests had been made under the ordinance since it went into effect and that “more than 550 people have used our Homeward Bound program,” which uses proceeds from certain seizures to fund bus tickets home; other presenters cited higher cumulative counts (several speakers referenced 600 people returned through Homeward Bound). Chief Blanton and other staff cautioned that some people served in shelter programs do not engage with daytime programming and that stronger daytime services and case-management capacity are needed.

Council members asked about funding and coordination. Members noted the Homelessness Intervention Committee (HIC) holds funds—committee members referenced approximately $1.6 million available—and asked whether HIC has reviewed proposals to increase female beds and daytime programming. Staff said HIC is aware of the shortage and undertaking strategic planning; several council members urged HIC and the city to prioritize female beds immediately and to report back to the DOGE special committee.

Members praised first responders and providers for outreach and described measurable improvements: one council member said the town’s January point-in-time count was 49% lower than the prior year in the downtown areas, and presenters said both citations and visible camping have declined since the program’s launch.

Next steps: council members asked staff to follow up with HIC, seek proposals from providers for added female capacity and daytime programming, and provide a district-by-district breakdown of contacts and outcomes at a future meeting.