Carl Falconer is the new director of veterans and residential services at the Clara White Mission.
WHEN DID YOU JOIN THE MISSION?
March.
WHAT’S NEW AT THE MISSION?
Three new programs — culinary arts training, day (or drop-in) center and transitional housing — will start once an additional facility is built. Construction on the new structures is slated to be complete between July and September.
WHAT DOES YOUR JOB INVOLVE?
“I run the drop-in center and transitional housing programs. I supervise the staff and work with the food services director to get students for the culinary arts training.”
WHAT IS A DROP-IN CENTER?
“It’s going to be a place where veterans can come and receive services or where they can go during the day. A lot of shelters close during the day. This is a place where they can become self-sufficient and do more with their lives.”
WHAT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE?
Staff members will be available to assist veterans and refer them to providers of social services for benefits, including health care, food stamps or Social Security payments. Life skills training and group counseling will likely be offered. Telephones, computers and showers will be made available. “We’ll have TV so they can relax and we’ll probably have a clothes closet and hygiene items so they can make themselves more presentable.”
WHAT PORTION OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION ARE VETERANS?
“We just completed our 2001 census with the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition. Twenty-two percent of the homeless in Jacksonville are veterans. That’s close to the national figure but it is probably an underestimate.”
WHY BUILD TRANSITIONAL HOUSING?
“The entire residence is for men. For individual males, there is not an overabundance of transitional housing.” The shelter will provide 36 beds, 75 percent of which will go to veterans with the remainder open to the public. Maximum stay is two years. “We’re trying to target ex-offenders. In the future, we hope to build an apartment-size complex for women and families.”
WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND?
“I worked with the Mental Health Resources Center in a program called Quest as team leader of homeless outreach. For two years before that I worked with the Link program as a case manager for those that are homeless and chronically mentally ill.”
EDUCATION
Falconer has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Florida.
WHY GO INTO THIS FIELD?
“I learned long ago that the only thing that is important in the world is people. I wanted to get to know more about people.”
HOW DID YOU GET INTO SOCIAL SERVICES?
“My inclination was to work with those that were chronically mentally ill, which I did with the Link program. But they were also homeless. I realized I liked working with that population. I liked who I met and who I got to talk with. At the same time, I got involved in the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition. I worked with the homeless population as an advocate.”
Currently, Falconer is chair of the advocacy committee for the coalition.
BORN
Key West.
PUTTING DOWN ROOTS
“I grew up in South Dakota, but I was living in Washington, D.C. when I was in the Army. I had visited here and liked the city. I liked that the big city and small town aspects were both here.” He’s been in Jacksonville since 1990.
WHAT’S MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR WORK?
“Getting to talk with the people, getting an education from them, being able to learn from them and the people I work with. They have a wealth of information. They teach you about life, about yourself and about people in general. I really like working with people.”
WHAT OBSTACLES DO YOU FACE?
“The most challenging aspect is trying to overcome the negative stereotypes of the homeless population. I think a lot of people don’t know what the homeless are about. I like to help educate people about that.”
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION?
“That the people want to be homeless, that they choose that lifestyle.”
FAMILY
The Northside is home to Falconer, his wife Heather and their children, Jay and baby Hannah.
HOBBIES
Reading biographies, playing chess or football and boogie boarding with his son are his favorite ways to unwind. When he’s at home, he’s channel surfing for “The West Wing” or the 1980s film “The Breakfast Club.” For barbecue, Falconer would drive anywhere for the Memphis flavor of red, hot and blue.
— by Monica Chamness