Michael Munz is a partner with the Dalton Agency. His office is at 140 W. Monroe St. Downtown. He responded to questions about some of his views about Downtown.
How long have you been based Downtown near Hemming Plaza and what role have you played among Downtown agencies or nonprofits?
I was the senior adviser for policy and initiatives to Mayor John Delaney when the St. James Building, which faces Hemming Plaza, became City Hall – so my time spent working around the plaza dates back to that time. In February of 2008, my business partners Jim Dalton, Dave Josserand and I closed on the purchase of the Dalton Agency building that also faces Hemming Plaza.
You advocate for a day center for the homeless. Why?
As our community debates the subject of real revitalization of our urban core, an issue that must be prioritized to the top of the list is providing a clear solution to the homeless challenge that Downtown faces. Having a business that overlooks Hemming Plaza, every day I see the dozens of homeless and at-risk individuals that spend their days in the park. The solution that must be explored is a dedicated drop-in resource center to replace what I have dubbed the de facto center – Hemming Plaza and the Main Library Downtown.
As a longtime supporter and past board member of the Sulzbacher Center, I have come to understand how a daytime drop-in center will provide access to resources such as computers for job searches, substance abuse counseling, mental health services and housing placement. The agencies serving the homeless currently offer all of these important services to their clients. However, due to the overwhelming need, and the limited number of emergency shelter beds, they are unable to serve everyone.
On any given day individuals in our community have no access to these critical resources. With a daytime drop-in center, assistance will be available to people who desperately need case management assistance to connect them with job and housing resources. The center would also provide access to a shower and a bathroom so people won’t utilize public buildings, such as the Main Library, for these resources.
The agencies serving the homeless have worked together to develop a plan that is shovel ready. The next step is identifying capital funds and operational dollars to make it happen. For this solution to be realized, it will take collaboration between the business community, nonprofit agencies and the government.
The studies have been done, the experts have weighed in, and we know the solution. Now is the time to take action. Downtown revitalization is an important issue, and the process to revitalize Downtown must address all the critical components necessary for success.
What do you observe Downtown that creates concern?
Downtown has many great assets from the St. Johns River to the many businesses, people and offerings that make up the heart of our city. We also have dedicated people who have invested time, talent and treasure to bring our downtown to a level of prominence. But we need more focus on making things happen. We need a strong and dedicated organization, such as the one Mayor Alvin Brown and the Jacksonville Civic Council have both been talking about, that focuses on Downtown, bringing both public policy and private sector resources into alignment to get “things” done.
You’re near the Main Library and have called it the de facto day center for the homeless, yet there are no rules forbidding the homeless from using the library. What is your response?
The library is a public place and anyone who wants to check out books, use the computers or other services should be able to access them. But, every morning I watch the lines form so that when the doors open we see a different use. What I am concerned about is that we have people who are forced to use the library just to get out of the elements or to use the facilities because nothing else is available to them. As a responsible community, we need to do better.
What other services do you think are needed for the homeless population?
Additional permanent housing options with services provided. Many of us who have been advocating for and raising awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness realize that the answer to homelessness is housing and outcome-based services. These include jobs, jobs training and increased access to substance abuse and mental health services.
Where is the funding for a day center and for other services?
As Mayor Brown espouses, it must be a public-private partnership. We need all the stakeholders at the table moving in the same direction. The funding will have to be some City funding, some corporate funding and some private funding.