The Jacksonville Day Resource Center at the City Rescue Mission opened Monday, beginning a one-year pilot program that seeks to measure homeless services and improve relationships among the indigent population and Downtown stakeholders.
Mayor Alvin Brown said Monday after a ceremonial ribbon-cutting and facilities tour that the program is "sorely needed" and is an opportunity to help people become self-sufficient.
"Goal No. 1 is for people to have a place to come and get back on their feet. The next step is they want a job, they want to take care of their family, they want to become self-sufficient," Brown said.
"This is a holistic way to address the homeless issue," he said.
The day center provides resources such as showers, food, laundry facilities and computer and telephone access. It also will be a single contact point for other homeless services.
The City Rescue Mission site at 234 W. State St. was one of seven considered for the project. The organization provides emergency shelter and serves hundreds daily through programs.
Brown said a public-private partnership made the program possible.
Those that contributed include ACON Construction, which provided $130,000 of in-kind labor and materials, VRL Architects provided the design work in-kind, Wells Fargo contributed $70,000 and the City committed $120,000 through a Community Development Block Grant.
Asked how progress would be measured, Brown said "they will have all that," referring to program administrators and the goal is "to make sure we do it right."
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