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Debate over 17-acre homeless-shelter lease exposes split on county role; proposal would host pods and family area
Summary
Commissioners debated a proposal to lease 17 acres between the jail and juvenile detention center to a nonprofit to operate a homeless shelter modeled on Catholic Charities/Daystar programs. Supporters said the model includes pod housing and case management; opponents warned it could draw outside demand and urged alternatives like Housing First.
A proposal to lease about 17 acres of county-owned property to a nonprofit to host a homeless shelter drew divided views from Citrus County commissioners during the strategic planning retreat.
Commissioner Davis described a plan to grant a 50-year lease to Catholic Charities and Daystar to operate a campus-style facility with gated family sections and lockable sleeping pods, saying the model pairs shelter beds with case management, life skills training and rapid rehousing goals. "They have a family section...everything would be fenced...there's only intake one time a week," Davis said, describing features she witnessed…
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