MCHWB Vice Chair Summary of Recommendations - May 11, 2022Topic-Specific Summary of the MCHWB May 11, 2022 Meeting Topic: Vulnerable Populations Presenters: Cindy Funkhouser: Sulzbacher; John Bowles: Beaches
Clinic/Beaches Hope Team; Tracy Tousey: Community Foundation. Mark Rowley (JFRD): Project Save Lives; Mission House was on the agenda but not attend the meeting. Theme of Presentation: While services exist to help vulnerable
citizens, more outreach and resources are needed to connect people to needed life-sustaining and life-saving services. Takeaways (a few): 1. An increasing “cost burden” has exacerbated the housing crisis
(and its concomitant issues) in the beaches area. 2. The beaches are a “net exporter” of workers. Actions to increase
affordable housing density need to be implemented. 3. We need to think about where we want increased housing density
and how to achieve that increase. 4. The intent of services to homeless men, women and children is to make them self-sufficient. 5. While there has not been a major increase in the AB homeless population, there has been a “huge increase” just west of the Intracoastal Waterway. 6. While drug overdoses are comparatively (to other parts of Duval County) low in AB, the incidents are spreading throughout AB. 7. A grant is available for distribution of free Narcan in AB. Recommendations (and which Council member made recommendation):
1. The City of Atlantic Beach should continue to build and
strengthen relationships with the Sulzbacher and the Beaches Hope Team [Tracy Marko]
2. Explore transportation options from Atlantic Beach to Mission House or similar services. [Joyce Freeman] 3. Explore the options that connect affordable housing and increased housing density. [Ellen Golombek] 4. Should the City of Atlantic Beach revisit height limits to increase housing density? [Ellen Golombek and Michael Lanier] 5. Explore options to control “flipping of houses” to increase affordable housing. [Tracy Marko] 6. Recommend that Project Save Lives expand to a dedicated emergency
department/room in the beaches community. [Lisa Herrold] 7. Develop free opioid education/distribution strategies that
include information about nonprescription Narcan in the City of Atlantic Beach. [Lisa Herrold]
Submitted to the MCHWB on June 8, 2022 Steve Piscitelli, Vice Chair