Homeless Support Services

Helping Neighbors in Need

Ours is among the many communities across the country working to help neighbors in need who are experiencing homelessness.

Homelessness is a complex issue – one driven by many factors including poverty, substance abuse, lack of affordable housing, and lack of access to support networks, health care services, and educational and economic opportunity.

Here in Gainesville, we believe in a compassionate and dignified approach to helping our houseless neighbors – an approach that starts with active listening. Under the direction of Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) Fire Chief Joseph Dixon, our efforts to help these neighbors in need involve multidisciplinary teams from several City departments and agencies, working alongside our community partners.

How we help

The City of Gainesville supports the mission of GRACE Marketplace, the area’s homeless resource center, with direct financial assistance so that shelter beds are readily available for our houseless neighbors.

Since 2014, our support has enabled GRACE to provide support services and help individuals on the road to permanent housing. Its Street Outreach Team meets houseless neighbors where they are, providing much-needed services and supplies.

We also provide direct assistance through our Community Resource Paramedicine (CRP) program. Our GFR paramedics and EMTs help our most underserved neighbors manage chronic medical conditions and medications, and navigate the health care system. Our teams also link these neighbors with GRACE outreach teams.

We also pair teams of Gainesville Police Department (GPD) officers with mental health clinicians from Meridian Behavioral Healthcare. These Co-Responder Teams (CRTs), established in 2018, respond to individuals with mental health and substance abuse issues where they are – and when they ask for help, GPD provides transport to the appropriate behavioral health service.

We’ll launch new initiatives in 2024 as we continue to provide assistance to our neighbors and sustainably reduce homelessness in our community.

Housing programs

Ultimately, we know stable, permanent housing ends homelessness – and prevents individuals and families from becoming homeless in the first place.

This is why the City of Gainesville invests in long-term housing strategies designed to increase the supply of affordable and available housing in our community. These housing programs and support services are managed by our Housing & Community Development staff.

If you need help

If you need assistance or know someone who may, please contact the Community Resource Paramedicine (CRP) program at GFR_CRP@GainesvilleFL.gov or call 352-338-8300.

We are dedicated to making Gainesville a great place to live and experience – for all neighbors. Working together with our community partners, we can solve homelessness in our community.