Riviera Beach CRA praises Clean & Safe initiative as unsheltered count falls to about 40

The Riviera Beach Community Redevelopment Agency on March 25 heard a quarterly report on its Clean & Safe policing initiative, with staff crediting a co‑response outreach model and partner agencies for a large drop in the citywide unsheltered count.

Executive Director Jadel Mercia introduced the presentation and Acting Major Glenn Meyer said the CRE team works with integrated health partners on weekly homeless outreach. "We brought that number down from last year, 107, to this year, around 40," Meyer said, reporting counts of 236 in 2024, 107 in 2025 and roughly 40 in 2026.

The presentation outlined program components: a co‑response model pairing officers with health providers for unsheltered outreach; CPTED (crime prevention through environmental design) training for officers; coordinated cleanups and community events; and collaborations with partners including St. Mary's Hospital, Mangonia Park Community Healthcare and the VA. Meyer described weekly field outreach and a mix of enforcement and services: "Field incident reports were 147, citations 182, and park walk and talks 621," he said.

Board members asked about staffing and funding. Mercia said the CRA currently budgets $371,000 in a special policing line item for the program. "Under our line item special policing, we have $371,000 allocated towards our policing program," she said. Mayor Douglas Lawson and several commissioners encouraged staff to plan for program expansion as waterfront development grows, while emphasizing the program should serve residents and not become private developer security.

Board members praised the results and asked staff to return with recommendations if they determine the program needs more officers or broader resources. The board did not take any formal action to change program funding at the meeting.