WORKING TOGETHER, we can help to fight this never ending battle of homelessness in Jacksonville, Florida. God created each of us in HIS perfect image. There are many reasons for homelessness and we wanted to share some with you to try to break down some misconceptions and misunderstandings about this on going problem.

First! Homelessness is NOT always due to drugs and alcohol. Yes there are many homeless people that do drugs and drink alcohol, some are homeless because of it and some have learned that it is a COPING mechanism for them to be able to stay alive.

Lets try to examine other ways that a person can become homeless, perhaps even what may see like overnight.

1. Divorce-This sometimes will force (mostly men) to no have the resources to be able to pay alimony, child support and find an affordable place for himself as well. This can also be a problem for women, but generally it's the men who find themselves out “in the cold” so to say.

2. Major Illnesses- If a person is very sick and perhaps has no insurance, can't work and no family, friends or anyone else who they can rely on, they can find themselves with no place to go due to having to pay so many medical bills.

3. Mental Illness- This is an ever growing concern in communities due to people not being able to receive the care they need or not being mentally capable of locating the facilities on their own. They are usually left to fend for themselves in any way they can, often not realizing the consequences they face such as jail or worse.

4. Loss of a Job- This can cause ANYONE to find themselves in dire straits as to how they will make ends meet. If a person looses their job, and they have not prepared for this such as always saving money for a “rainy day” per se, they may find themselves without much hope of being able to survive. Even finding a job can be difficult in certain circumstances.

5. Prison or jail time-This is a big one. People who are incarcerated are often looked at as “less than” and they are not always given a second chance to prove themselves. Some of them yes they are rehabilitated, this is true, yet some of them, choose to continue on their path of destruction. This can cause long term homelessness and many problems in the future with the law and possibly more jail time.

Let me share some statistics about Jacksonville, Florida as best we can see it to date. There really is no complete way of knowing a 100% positive number of homeless, because homelessness entails not only street homelessness, it also includes homeless living with friends or family, couch surfing, living in cars, etc.

https://endhomelessness.org/state-of-homelessness/

Here is a good example of the homeless problem in Jacksonville, Florida as of 2025.

Let's all try to be a part of the bigger picture in helping and trying to repair the damage that has been done. There are answers, some are short term and some are more long term, but there are still answers.

As we walk, visit, and share time with the brothers and sisters of Jacksonville, we hear stories, stories just like your and mine, but on a different level. Take the time to just listen for a change. Some fear homeless, some just don't have the “TIME” for them, some feel superior to them, yet others just don't know and feel that ignorance is bliss.

If we all work together we can help to end this epidemic sooner. There are more and more younger people becoming homeless as prices of apartments and housing, food, insurance and such continue to skyrocket. We all must work together to try to help and save this world and make it a better place to live in, including the least of these.

Won't you be a part of making jacksonville Florida a better city to live in where people say how amazing it is that people work together for the betterment of the nation? Let's all joing together in unity to make our city better by rallying around and putting our ideas into action.

God bless each and every citizen in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas and we praise you and thank you for all you do for our homeless friends.