Leon County Commission to Receive Status Report on Transitional Housing

At the December 10^th meeting, Leon County Commissioners (Board) will receive a status report on transitional housing in Leon County for homeless individuals and families. The Board requested the report at its July 9, 2024, meeting.

Transitional Housing

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines transitional housing as providing temporary housing with supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness with the goal of interim stability and support to successfully move to and maintain permanent housing.

Transitional housing is distinct from permanent housing and has traditionally been funded by state, federal, and private sources. HUD, which administers federal funding for homeless programs, defines transitional housing as temporary housing (up to 24 months) that provides supportive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Recent reports have indicated that there are approximately 1,000 students in the Leon County School system who are either homeless or do not have a permanent home.

Leon County Transition Housing

There are more than 10 transitional housing programs in Leon County with more than 500 beds. Transitional housing programs exist for youth, veterans, and victims of domestic violence. Additionally, there are several programs for men and women being released from incarceration as well as for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders.

The item notes that these programs are often at capacity and have waiting lists due to limited access to permanent housing which the County is working to address in coordination with local partners to increase in the community.

The Big Bend Continuum of Care (CoC), which is recognized by HUD and the State of Florida as the regional planning and oversight organization for homelessness in Leon County and seven neighboring counties, is actively working with existing programs and potential new providers to secure additional federal funding to expand transitional housing beds in Leon County.

In December 2024, the CoC applied to HUD for funds in the amount of $500,000 to establish 24 additional transitional housing beds in Leon County for youth that have experienced domestic violence.

In addition, in 2025, the CoC plans to submit applications through HUD as well as the DOJ for up to $1.2 million to establish up to 40 additional transitional housing beds in Leon County.

The status reports states that “the County has actively worked with local partners to expand access to transitional housing in the community in order to reduce homelessness through established line-item funding for the emergency homeless shelters for more than $3 million over the next two years in coordination with the City and CSC-Leon as well as the establishment of the RHA Program in the amount of $100,000 to assist homeless individuals released from the Leon County Detention Facility with accessing transitional housing programs to reduce recidivism.”