The Florida Senate

420.623  Local coalitions for the homeless.--

(1)  ESTABLISHMENT.--The department shall establish in each of its service districts one or more local coalitions to plan, network, coordinate, and oversee the delivery of services to the homeless in that district. Appropriate local groups and organizations involved in providing services for the homeless shall be given an opportunity to participate in such coalitions, including, but not limited to:

(a)  Community mental health centers.

(b)  County health departments.

(c)  Organizations and agencies providing food, shelter, or other services targeted to the homeless.

(d)  Local law enforcement agencies.

(e)  Local offices of the Department of Labor and Employment Security.

(f)  County and municipal governments.

(g)  Local housing authorities.

(2)  FUNCTIONS OF LOCAL COALITIONS.--Major functions of the local coalitions shall be to:

(a)  Discuss local issues related to homelessness and the needs of the homeless.

(b)  Inventory all local resources for the homeless, including, but not limited to, food assistance, clothing, emergency shelter, low-cost housing, emergency medical care, counseling, training, and employment.

(c)  Review and assess all services and programs in support of the homeless and identify unmet needs of the homeless.

(d)  Plan for the delivery of multiagency services for the homeless to eliminate duplication of services and to maximize the use of limited existing resources for the homeless.

(e)  Develop new programs and services to fill critical service gaps, if necessary, through reallocation of existing resources for the homeless.

(f)  Develop a community resource directory of services available to the homeless for use by agencies, volunteers, information and referral systems, and homeless persons.

(g)  Develop public education and outreach initiatives to make homeless persons aware of the services available to them through community agencies and organizations.

(h)  Identify and explore new approaches to shelter care for the homeless, such as the use of vacant publicly owned buildings, vacant beds in assisted living facilities, and vacant beds in foster homes, as resources for emergency shelter care for homeless persons.

(i)  Monitor and evaluate local homeless initiatives to assess their impact, to determine the adequacy of services available through such initiatives, and to identify additional unmet needs of homeless persons.

(j)  Collect and compile information relating to the homeless population served and report on a regular basis, but at least annually, such information to the department, as directed by the department.

(k)  Develop an annual local plan of action which shall include:

1.  The description, documentation, and priority ranking of local needs related to the problems of homelessness.

2.  A plan outlining steps to be taken in meeting identified needs.

3.  Spending plans pursuant to the grant-in-aid program created under s. 420.625. Spending plans shall include a competitive ranking of applications from local agencies eligible for funding pursuant to the provisions of s. 420.625.

(3)  DEPARTMENT GUIDELINES.--The department shall develop guidelines for coalition activities, coalition reports, and development of local plans of action.

(4)  ANNUAL REPORTS.--The department shall submit to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President of the Senate, by June 30, beginning in 1989, an annual report consisting of a compilation of data collected by local coalitions in each district, local spending plans, programs and resources available at the local level, and recommendations for programs and funding.

History.--ss. 10, 13, ch. 87-106; s. 3, ch. 88-303; ss. 27, 29, ch. 88-376; s. 39, ch. 95-210; s. 140, ch. 97-101.