Families sleeping on floor in Jacksonville shelter dining room; waiting list for about 200 families

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Right now, more than 200 local families are waiting on a list for affordable housing at Sulzbacher Village.

As you sleep comfortably in your bed, there are people sleeping on the floor in a shelter dining room. But they’re grateful. It’s better than the streets.

“We get multiple calls a month on families who are found by outreach or by the Sheriff’s Office, sometimes by churches, sleeping in cars,” said Brian Snow, chief program officer at Sulzbacher Village.

While the Sulzbacher Village is at full capacity, Snow said they don’t want any families on the streets or living in cars.

“Right now, we have a waiting list of about 200 families waiting to get into a shelter here,” he said.

>> Link: Jacksonville Homeless Shelters & Services For The Needy

There are 52 transitional rooms and 70 affordable apartments. Glenda Mitchell and her 12-year-old daughter are thankful to be staying there.

“It took away all the worries, and then it’s affordable,” she said.

They were living in a car at one point before moving in almost two years ago.

“I had no hope at that time. I really had no hope,” Mitchell said.

A point-in-time count report said homeless numbers are down in Northeast Florida – it decreased by 32% over the past 10 years. Snow said you wouldn’t know it here.

“We haven’t seen it firsthand on our waiting list. We are still seeing a large amount of families and single women applying for shelter here,” said Snow.

Snow said it all comes down to this: too many people, not enough space.

“Capacity is a major challenge in Jacksonville. Ultimately, it comes down to there’s not enough affordable housing,” Snow said.

As for Mitchell, she said this experience has inspired her to make some changes.

“(I’m going to) be a better person when I walk out, trust me. Trust me, with their help, I got it,” she said.

As for the families still waiting to get in and the ones sleeping on the floor, Snow said it’s not ideal, but it’s what they have, and they don’t them on the street or in a car.

“At least here, we know they are safe, the kids are clean and getting meals,” he said.

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Families sleeping on floor in Jacksonville shelter dining room; waiting list for about 200 families Families sleeping on floor in Jacksonville shelter dining room; waiting list for about 200 families

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