The Leon County Commission recently approved a funding recommendation of $100,000 for the Public Safety Coordinating Council to implement a Rental Housing Assistance Program (RHA) for homeless individuals recently released from the Leon County Detention Facility.
The Public Safety Coordinating Council (PSCC) will utilize the $100,000 to implement the Rental Housing Assistance Program and work with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office for the administration of the program. The PSCC was established in 2002 and works to ensure the population of the Leon County Detention Facility does not exceed capacity. The Board historically allocates $100,000 to the PSCC for jail diversion programs.
On July 16, 2024, The PSCC unanimously voted to recommend the implementation of the Rental Housing Assistance Program to assist individuals recently released from the Leon County Detention Facility. The agenda item states that the RHA will “provide financial assistance of up to $4,000 per participant to secure housing with security deposit, first/last month rent, utility hookup, etc.”
The $4,000 allocation to participants can also be utilized towards private rental units or space in a transitional housing property. The transitional housing can be provided for up to 24 months to individuals who are homeless, and can assist them with securing long-term housing, income, and healthcare. The $4,000 can provide housing for an average of two to three months per participant and would help 25 individuals who exit the Leon County Detention Facility with an immediate housing solution.
To qualify for this program, individuals must be homeless based on previous housing situations, must have been released from the Leon County Detention Facility within the past 30 days, must have two or more prior arrests in the prior 24 months, must participate in case management services through the Reentry Innovative Services and Empowerment Center, and must have a valid rental agreement in their name.
The PSCC cites a Harvard University study that states “reentry interventions must address health, employment, housing, skill development, etc., as these factors have the most significant impact on reentry success.”
Leon County Approves Rental Assistance Program for Former Inmates added by Staff on
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But not homeless vets… Good to know.
Law abiding and homeless?
No help for you!
Do you know how hard it is to get a rental with a felony record, bad credit and no job?
Good luck with this!
Missy you are exactly right. Thank you.
So the County and City get more tax dollars with higher appraisal values and no relief. I understand the concept of this feel good program but the felons made choices that have consequences. Give them a bus ticket out of here if homeless as they evidently have no roots here. Nonprofits can assist with the rest funded by people who advocate for them. The jail needs to be improved for employee safety and that is where funding should go and back to the taxpayers if there is surplus (which never happens).
Stop rewarding criminals.
Student Apartments usually have 4 Bed Rooms with their own Bathrooms, a Common Kitchen and a Common Living Room. Next Time a Complex comes up for sale you should buy it for the Homeless. Depending on the size of the Rooms, you might be able to house 8 Homeless per Apartment.
Just build a bigger jail, much bigger. Enough of this socialist crap.