Today marked a major milestone for our community. Members of the Putnam County homelessness advocacy community met this morning to formalize the R.I.S.E. (Residential Initiative for Stability and Employment) program.
While you may have seen the recent coverage on Action News Jax highlighting the urgent need for shelter in Palatka, there is much more happening behind the scenes to ensure this isn’t just a temporary fix, but a permanent solution.
What Happened Today?
The R.I.S.E. program was officially formalized as a collaborative initiative. This program is designed to be the “front door” for those seeking stability, but it is currently awaiting the next crucial step: City and County approval.
The “Brain” Behind the Mission
While a shelter provides the beds, our new Resource Hub provides the data. To make R.I.S.E. successful and state-compliant, we are implementing:
- The Local PIT (Point-in-Time) Count: Moving beyond national estimates to get real, local numbers of our neighbors in need.
- Gloria Johnson Act Alignment: Ensuring every step we take meets the new 2026 legislative standards for safety and accountability.
- The Partner Portal: A centralized “command center” where local churches and agencies can coordinate resources in real-time.
What’s Next?
The R.I.S.E. program must now go before city and county officials for final approval. We aren’t just asking for a building; we are presenting a fully integrated, data-backed system to end the cycle of homelessness in Putnam County.
Want to help? Check out our Volunteer Page and Join The Coalition page to see how you or your church can get involved in the upcoming shelter support teams.
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