Latest news with #SamGarrison
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hundreds of homeless arrests, shelter rides and Greyhound trips mark compliance with law
On a drive through downtown to a Jaguars game, state Rep. Sam Garrison saw so many homeless people along the streets that a few months later, he helped push through a new state law against camping or sleeping on public spaces such as sidewalks, parks and public buildings. When Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill in Miami Beach, Garrison said great cities in other states had "been brought to their knees" because they failed to act even when families weren't comfortable walking down the streets and businesses closed for lack of customers. Half a year after the law sponsored by Garrison took effect Oct. 1, he said it's a "work in progress" but it is bringing changes across Florida. Jacksonville officials say the same about downtown, which has long been the city's hot spot for homelessness. "It really has motivated cities and counties around the state to get to work and come up with some creative ideas to solve the problem, and I'm very encouraged by that," said Garrison, R-Fleming Island. That strategy in Jacksonville faces criticism by the National Homelessness Law Center, Southern Legal Counsel, Southern Poverty Law Center and Florida Justice Institute who say a city ordinance that empowers the Sheriff's Office to arrest people might temporarily clear an encampment from public view, but it doesn't solve the root cause of homelessness — a lack of affordable rental housing. The ordinance with criminal penalties is part of what Jacksonville calls a carrot-and-stick approach that has logged 198 arrests, 443 transfers of homeless people to Jacksonville shelters and 240 bus tickets for trips to other cities where they have family or friends from October through mid-April. In a March 5 letter to Mayor Deegan and City Council members, the groups objecting to the ordinance said "basic acts of survival should not be treated as crimes." "Arresting people for merely sleeping outdoors is not permitted by the U.S. Constitution," the letter says. "And the repeated arrest of the chronically homeless is both ineffective and costly." The four groups sent similar letters to 20 other Florida cities and counties, including Jacksonville Beach. Garrison counters that the "housing first" approach to homelessness has spent huge amounts of money with little to show for the investment when it comes to helping people who are in "acute need right now." He likened the intent of the new law to a triage situation. "It's not going to end homelessness," he said. "There's nothing the government can do to 'end homelessness.' What we can do is ensure people who are in crisis have a place to solve immediate needs and the public has confidence our streets and public spaces are safe and available for public use." On a recent weekday morning in downtown, which has long had the Jacksonville's biggest concentration of homeless people, the results so far are a study in contrast. A few dozen people were gathered on the sidewalks around Trinity Rescue Mission, some in folding chairs and others seated on the concrete. One woman slept on the sidewalk next to a man asleep in a wheelchair. Elsewhere in downtown, workers going to jobs in office towers could walk blocks without seeing any homeless people on sidewalks. Downtown Vision CEO Jake Gordon said overall, the enactment of the state law and the city's follow-through on it has made a noticeable difference in fewer people camping out on sidewalks. "The question is, 'Will the work ever be done?'" Gordon said. "I don't know the answer. I do think it's a total sea change about how there's been a coordinated effort. There's way more focus on this issue." On the enforcement side, the city made it a Class B offense punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $50 fine to camp on public property. The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office has used that ordinance to make 198 arrests and issue 54 notice to appear citations since Nov. 1, according to an April 14 presentation to the City Council's Finance Committee. The Sheriff's Office also has given 775 warnings since the law started Oct. 1. On the outreach side, the new Providing Assistance to the Homeless team comprised of Jacksonville firefighters goes to hot spots for homelessness, mainly in downtown, and offers rides to homeless shelters. The PATH team's transportation has resulted in 433 stays at homeless shelters since December, according to the presentation. Finally, the city is using its Homeward Bound program more heavily than ever. It's paid for 240 bus tickets for those who want to go to another city since Oct. 1. At the current pace, Homeward Bound will double the number of bus rides in the current fiscal year, which runs through Sept. 30, compared to the prior fiscal year. In a measure of homelessness that's tied directly to the state law, property-owners have the ability to sue local governments that fail to prevent camping on public spaces. So far, no one has sued Jacksonville since that part of the law took effect on Jan. 1. In another measure of homelessness, this year's "Point In Time" survey found the total number of people experiencing homelessness in Duval County dropped from 1,209 in the 2024 count down to 968 in this year's survey, a 20% decline. The improvement was even greater in the count of homeless people who weren't in shelters, meaning they were living outdoors or in a car or an uninhabitable building The number of unsheltered homeless people plunged from 469 people in 2024 down to 277 this year, a 41% decline. "It's great news, I think, any way that you look at it," City Council Finance Committee Chairman Ron Salem said. Deegan said the change is encouraging and it "shows that we're on the right track." "It's important to note that this one data point is also a snapshot in time," she said. "We know there is more to do." Changing Homelessness CEO Dawn Gilman, whose nonprofit coordinates the "Point in Time Count," said the one-day survey, which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires, is useful to track trends because it uses the same methodology each year when volunteers fan out and physically identify homeless people. But while the "Point in Time" county showed a decline, Gilman said the picture is different for a running list that tracks people by name when they are actively seeking homeless assistance. That by-name list, which is updated weekly, has not improved. "So right now we have one data set going down and one data set going up," she said. "We're going to have to watch to see what happens going forward." Garrison said the reports from across the state show a reduction in the number of chronically homeless and unsheltered people. For homeless people, the state law puts them in a squeeze if there are no beds available for them. If a county lacks enough open shelter beds for its homeless population, the state law gives local governments the ability to set aside a place on public property where homeless people can sleep, provided it meets standards set by the state. Jacksonville decided not to use that option. That effectively leaves no place in Jacksonville for homeless people to legally sleep outdoors because existing trespassing laws already make it against the law for people to camp on private property. "Biologically, you have to sleep a certain number of hours to stay alive," Gilman said. "If our shelters are full, where do people go?" The city's homeless shelters were already at capacity when the state law started. City Council approved about $1.3 million for Trinity Rescue Mission, City Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army to add up to 110 beds that have filled up as the city has finalized contracts for the beds. The PATH team of Jacksonville firefighters, which the city set up at a cost of $1 million, makes face-to-face contact with homeless people and offers rides to the shelters. The seven-member PATH team has deployed in different parts of the city, including the Beach Boulevard corridor, but the main focus has been in downtown. City Council also approved $137,000 for the Homeward Bound program, the largest annual amount ever for it. The concept of Homeward Bound has been around in one form or another for decades in Jacksonville. Currently, it's run out of the Sheriff's Office with assistance by Downtown Vision, whose staff verify people are homeless and have will have help waiting for them after they step off the Greyhound bus. Gordon said participation in Homeward Bound is purely voluntary. "We're not saying everyone should utilize this program, but for a certain individual with certain needs, it's very valuable," Gordon said. Homeward Bound provided transportation to 110 people in the 2022 fiscal year, 140 in 2003, and 250 people in the 2024 fiscal year. So far in the current fiscal year that started Oct. 1, Homeward Bound provided 240 rides already. Gilman said Homeward Bound can be positive for homeless people, provided they have safe place to stay when they get to the next city. "Getting people back to where their home is and family reunification is really high on what we try to do with helping folks who are experiencing homelessness," she said. She said homeless people might be more likely to turn to Homeward Bound if they are living on the streets and know they could face arrest. "On the flip side, criminalization of homelessness is happening across the country so it's very likely there are similar laws wherever they're going to, especially if it's in Florida," she said. Mayor Donna Deegan wants to use part of a $1 million federal grant the city received in January for a Homeward Bound program at the Beaches in partnership with Mission House Jax working with the Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach police departments. The bulk of the grant would pay for case managers at emergency shelters so they can work with homeless people coming to them as a result of the PATH team's outreach. The grant also would put $310,000 into "rapid rehousing" such as short-term rentals that people can move into from emergency shelters. City spokesman Phillip Perry said the expansion of shelter beds and the PATH outreach has shown the "pinch point" is getting wraparound services lined up for people who agree to come off the streets. The addition of case managers at the shelter to work with homeless people will "get them back on their feet more quickly" so shelters can accept more people. Homelessness commission: City Council creates new commission amid changes to state law 'A stable place to call home:' Ending veteran homelessness in Jacksonville Gilman said the PATH outreach is critical because it's helped build trust among unsheltered people so they're willing to work with nonprofits. For that outreach to be successful, shelter beds must be available "that day, right now" and that also is happening more, she said. She said ultimately, the measure of success is getting people from shelters to housing. "The thing we have not seen yet is the funding to help people actually move into a home, into a stable place," she said. "Everybody who is in an emergency shelter is still homeless." This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville marks half year of complying with state homeless law
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Representative Sam Garrison Joined Tampa General Hospital and USF Health Morsani College Of Medicine to Highlight Innovation in Health Care at Florida's State Capitol
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Feb. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of the 2025 legislative session, Representative Sam Garrison joined Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Tuesday in the Senate Portico for a discussion highlighting the breakthroughs in innovation and technology research that are elevating care in Florida and expanding access for patients. "Florida's strong leadership and commitment to pro-business, pro-family policies have made our state a destination not just for its beautiful beaches, but for opportunity and innovation," said Representative Garrison. "Hospitals like Tampa General play a key role in this vision by combining research, technology and innovation to provide the best possible care for families and visitors." The event was part of We Are TGH Day at the Florida Capitol and also featured TGH president and CEO John Couris; Scott Arnold, TGH's executive vice president and chief digital and chief innovation officer; and Nishit Patel, M.D., vice president of medical informatics for USF Tampa General Physicians and professor and associate residency program director for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine Department of Dermatology & Cutaneous Surgery. "From the weather and our coastlines to our reputation as an entertainment capital, Florida has a reputation as a world-class destination," said Couris. "But we're also a destination for innovation in health care. Right here in the Sunshine State, we're implementing the latest research findings and the newest technologies to provide the best possible care to our patients. Tampa General is truly transforming the health care landscape." The discussion, titled "Florida: The Destination for Innovation," focused on the growing reputation of the Sunshine State as a destination for world-class care. Stefan Grow, chief of staff at Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration, served as moderator. "At Tampa General, we're partnering with some of the world's most advanced technology companies," said Arnold. "Through our new Innovation Center at Tampa General Hospital, we will be collaborating directly with our partners to develop the next-generation technologies and shape how they enhance health care delivery." Tampa General is building an Innovation Center in the Tampa Medical and Research District, where developers, engineers and creators can collaborate with health care researchers, providers, and team members to craft solutions that enhance care. "We're leveraging technology to not just optimize care delivery, but also enhance patient experience," said Dr. Patel. "Through integrated managed services, we're increasing transparency for patients to securely access their own medical information and communicate virtually with their providers." Dr. Patel led the design of Tampa General's "Patient Room of the Future" program, which evaluates, tests and scales new transformative care technologies. As the region's only university-affiliated academic health system, Tampa General is at the forefront of groundbreaking research, pioneering advancements and world-class training that are reshaping the future of care delivery across the industry. On We Are TGH Day, examples of TGH's innovative technologies, including the TGH exoskeleton, AquaBot, and Aquafence, were on display at the Capitol for lawmakers and legislative aides to explore. A member of the AeroMed helicopter fleet was also positioned on Adams Street for attendees to explore. In partnership with USF Health and Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, and like-minded leaders of health care and life sciences innovation, Tampa General established a world-class medical and research district in the City of Tampa. The Tampa Medical & Research District (TMRD) is firmly cementing Florida as a foremost destination for world-class clinical care, exceptional academics, cutting-edge medical research, and innovative life sciences and biotechnology companies. By serving as a catalyst for job creation, a more prosperous community and a healthier population, the TMRD is elevating Florida's status as a globally recognized leader in the health care and life sciences industry. We Are TGH Day is an opportunity for Tampa General patients and their families to advocate for the world-class care they received at TGH. More than 150 Floridians from across the state were in Tallahassee to participate in Tuesday's events. Students from the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine were also in attendance. ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL Tampa General Hospital, a 981-bed, not-for-profit, academic health system, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 Best Hospitals, with two medical specialties ranking among the top 20 in the nation and eight medical specialties ranking among the top 50 best hospital programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic health system's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by three prestigious Forbes magazine rankings – in the top 100 nationally in the 2024 America's Best Large Employers, the top 50 in Florida in the 2024 America's Best Employers by State and the 2023 America's Best Employers for Women. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2022, provided a net community benefit of approximately $240.3 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It was the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant center in 2024 and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With five medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Muma Children's Hospital at TGH, the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes TGH North, which is comprised of three hospitals and several outpatient locations in Citrus and Hernando counties, 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, two TGH Outpatient Centers, TGH Virtual Health, and 20 TGH Imaging outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by the Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital ( As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to ABOUT USF HEALTHUSF Health's mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the Taneja College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, the Biomedical Sciences Graduate and Postdoctoral Programs, and USF Health's multispecialty physicians' group. The University of South Florida, a high-impact research university dedicated to student success and committed to community engagement, generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. Through hundreds of millions of dollars in research activity each year, USF is a leader in solving global problems and improving lives. For more information, visit TGH Media Contact: USF Health Media Contact: Cody Hawley Amanda Bevis Senior Director (202) 680-9262 (cell) USF Health Communications & Marketing amanda@ 235-1001 crhawley@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Tampa General Hospital Sign in to access your portfolio
