About the Homeless Coalition of St. Johns County
We’re ending family homelessness in St. Johns County by stabilizing vulnerable families in safe & decent homes, then providing supportive services needed to help them gain self-sufficiency.
Building Better Futures for Homeless Families
We Stabilize Extremely Low-Income Families Facing a Housing Crisis
23 Cottages on a 5-Acre West Augustine Campus
Two-, three-, and four- bedroom cottages provide an affordable, dignified, and secure place families and their children can call home while working to change their lives.
On-Campus Facilities
Residents have access to a laundry facility with commercial-grade washers and dryers.
A food pantry provide support for residents and neighbors experiencing food insecurities.
A storage facility provides storage for furniture, appliances, household items, toys, cleaning supplies, and beds generously donated by the community.
Each cottage is fully furnished when families move in. And families are welcome to take the furniture when they move on to their permanent housing solution.
A Safe & Supportive Community
A sense of community is fostered through Neighborhood Watch meetings, playground and picnic tables, and local volunteers and church members who stop by for cookouts, tutoring, and children parties.
Homeless parents & children resided in our cottages between 2013 - 2023.
We Confront Generational Poverty & Inspire Self-Sufficiency
Case Management & Community Resources
Our case managers work with families to connect them with the educational, financial, and medical resources necessary for them to overcome barriers that may perpetuate poverty.
Through on-campus staff plus a coalition of community agencies and services, families receive support that includes:
- Job Searches & Placement
- Food Support & SNAP Assistance
- Educational, Literacy, & GED Assistance
- Childcare Solutions
- Referrals to Medical, Substance Abuse, & Mental Health Services
- Budgeting Skills Assistance
- Credit Score Repair
- Parenting Class Referrals
%
Families remained stably housed, self-sufficient, and contributing members of the community while participating in the Homeless Coalition program.
%
Families maintained income and/or received raises while participating in the Homeless Coalition Program.
How We Serve Other Homeless Populations
Homeless Veterans
In 2019, the Homeless Coalition renovated a home in West Augustine to serve as affordable housing for up to three homeless veterans. Each veteran receives the same Homeless Coalition supportive services as well as support from the Veterans Administration.
Coalition Support: Special thanks to United Way of St. Johns County and Mount Moriah Baptist Church for their support in renovating this home.
Homeless Individuals
In 2018, the Homeless Coalition purchased and started renovations of a historic school house in West Augustine to serve as affordable housing for up to eleven homeless and extremely low-income individual.
Coalition Support: Special thanks to Leadership St. Johns and Three Grains of Rice for their support in renovating this historic building.
Making an Impact on the Community
The Homeless Coalition provides supportive services that benefit the surrounding West Augustine community and residents throughout St. Johns County.
Many of the people living in the area are homeless and poverty stricken.
Food Redistribution: Provide USDA commodities and food items received from donations. Assist with Food Stamp applications.
Clothing: Provide clothing and shoe vouchers for residents, homeless and those at risk of homelessness.
Neighborhood Watch: On the second Monday of each month Homeless Coalition residents and West Augustine neighbors gather for a dinner, social time and presentation from local service agencies.
Access Florida Assistance: Participate in Access Florida assistance with Medicaid, disability insurance and other mainstream resources.
Between 2013 – 2023
Homeless and low-income people walked into the Homeless Coalition for assistance and support.
Food bags were distributed to homeless and low-income people in St. Johns County.
Jim & Jean Harden
Our History
In June 1998, three concerned groups, the St. Johns County Mental Health Department, NAMI of St. Johns County, the Trinity Chapel (now Destiny International) and the Rosalie James Circle of the International Order of The King’s Daughters and Sons, decided to do something about the need for shelters and services for the homeless families with children.
Many of these families lived among other individuals and the chronically mentally ill homeless in the woods, under bridges, sleeping in abandoned cars, and other places unfit for human habitation in St. Johns County.
With the help of service provider agencies, churches, businesses, and concerned citizens, the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of St Johns County, Inc. (ESHC) was organized and chartered in November 1998.
Homeless Housing
The Homeless Coalition launched as a Transitional Housing agency, which guides homeless persons into permanent housing.
The agency determined that one of the most pressing needs was housing for homeless children and their single parents. Because no other agency or organization would do so, the Coalition took the lead and in 1999 purchased our first transitional shelter. In 2001, the Coalition purchased 12 houses on Chapin St. and in 2004 purchased three (3) houses on Nesbit Ave, and in 2009 built four (4) houses on Smith St.
The agency currently has 23 homes.
- 4 Homes are Transitional Homes with Supportive Services
- 15 Homes are Permanent Housing with Supportive Services
- 1 is a Veteran’s Home with Supportive Services
- 3 Homes are Leased in Partnership with EPIC Behavioral Health Care for Sober Living Housing
St. Johns County Non-Profit Leadership
Lead Agency
In 2002, the Florida Department of Children and Families, Office on Homelessness recognized and designated ESHC to serve as lead agency for St. Johns County for local planning efforts to create homeless assistance continuum of care systems. ESHC served in this capacity through June 2016.
Homeless Management Information System
ESHC served as the lead agency for the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) from 2002 through July 31, 2016. The primary goal of the database is to deliver to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) documentation on services and shelter provided to homeless persons and those at risk of homelessness in St. Johns County. ESHC and many agencies offering homeless services utilize this program. HMIS reporting is mandatory for those agencies receiving HUD funds. We encourage all service providers to input services in HMIS to support each other and note gaps in services.
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