Thursday's Eggs & Issues program focused on this continuing need, featuring speakers (above) Carrie Baird, Commission on Homelessness and Housing, and Dwight Selby, Ormond Beach City Commissioner and First Step Shelter Board Member.
Each year, the Volusia-Flagler County Coalition for the Homeless conducts a point in time count. This year, the number of homeless individuals counted increased.
First Step Shelter is scheduled to open in October with 50 beds to start. It will add additional beds once more funding comes forth. Case management will play a major part in getting these individuals back to becoming working/taxpaying citizens.
The City of Daytona Beach and Volusia County have each pledged $400,000 for shelter operations. Other cities in Volusia County have pledged a combined total of $204,000, and an additional $181,000 has been raised from private sector.
Private sector fundraising will be key to making this program successful. The next step for sheltered persons will be to graduate after 60-90 days and be placed into housing.