Programs  >  HOPE Team

     The HOPE (Homeless Outreach Project Expansion) Team increases access to health care and emergency shelter services to street homeless persons and families not residing at the Sulzbacher Center.  They provide services through direct client contact on the streets, under bridges, in wooded areas, abandoned buildings or cars, and other areas of refuge.   The HOPE Team focuses on unsheltered homeless persons with all types of disabilities and illnesses in need of immediate or emergency care due to a life-threatening injury and/or physical illness.

Staff identify street homeless persons and work towards building a trusting relationship to help move these persons into a more secure and sheltered environment.  A strong effort is made to encourage these persons to seek free medical care, mental health care and substance abuse treatment at the I.M. Sulzbacher Center. 

At least four days a week, the HOPE Team goes out on the streets of Jacksonville in search of street homeless, with the goal of getting them into shelter.  Once a street homeless site or area has been identified, the medical outreach van returns to continue to build trust and cooperation and to increase the amount or level of assistance.  Sometimes it takes several visits before a street homeless person is ready to accept care, referral or linkage. 
While the Sulzbacher Center provides health care and other support services at a central location, it is also critical to ensure that street homeless persons know that these services are available, and that transportation is not a barrier to care.  By conducting intense street outreach throughout the area the HOPE Team provides a critical linkage to care and services.

The HOPE Team is the only program in our community that offers a seamless and integrated system of shelter, meals, emergency clothing, medical care, mental health care, substance abuse treatment, crisis intervention, case management and more to street homeless persons.