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B. Organizational Capability 1. uescrI tion of the countywiae purpose the tunas Will De usea tor: In 2023, the CoC provided 23,818 services to 3,416 individuals across Indian River County. Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council (TCHSC) specifically provided 3,534 services to 522 individuals within the county. The proposed funding will help us to reach more individuals and ensure smooth collaboration across all of the agencies that have contribute to serving thousands each year. A portion of the requested funds will ensure the continuity of critical positions established with previous funding. These positions directly support service delivery and accurate data collection for our resource center, allowing us to maintain the momentum achieved in 2023. This sustained support is vital to the long-term success of our programs. However, to truly maximize the impact across the entire county, additional funding is required to establish new roles that can react to the changed face of homelessness in Florida. Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council (TCHSC) will hire two additional staff members who will focus on street outreach and case management. This significant investment will strengthen our current operations and directly address the challenges presented by Florida HB1365. Florida HB1365, recently passed by the state legislature, significantly alters how homelessness is addressed in Florida. Key provisions include: • Prohibiting homeless individuals from camping on streets, sidewalks, parks, and other public areas. • Mandating placement in temporary, county -designated encampments monitored by law enforcement. • Requiring encampments to implement a no -drugs policy. • Integrating substance abuse and mental health treatments within encampments. • Further, these encampments can only exist in a single location for one year. While these changes aim to swiftly connect homeless individuals with needed services, TCHSC anticipates a substantial impact on our community. The increased reliance on shelters, encampments, and the enforcement measures outlined in HB1365 will likely lead to: • Increased costs and burden on county government. • Increased over-criminalization of homelessness. • Strained resources for law enforcement agencies. • Additional pressure on local agencies and nonprofits serving the homeless population. The two new staff members will play a critical role in mitigating the challenges presented by HB1365. They will focus on building relationships with homeless individuals, assessing their needs, and connecting them with appropriate services and resources. Through a Housing First lens, staff would work to connect individuals to housing quickly to decrease time spent in encampments. Staff will additionally provide ongoing support to homeless individuals as they navigate the path to stable housing and self-sufficiency through comprehensive Case Management. Currently, TCHSC collaborates with the Indian River County Sheriffs Office in outreach initiatives. However, existing resources often lack the flexibility to engage staff quickly or to allow staff to deploy alongside patrol units across the county. This reactive approach can limit the effectiveness of outreach efforts, particularly when immediate needs arise or situations risk escalating. The proposed outreach team would bridge this gap by establishing a proactive response system. The outreach team will work closely with the Sheriffs Office during outreach activities, aiming to achieve the following objectives: • Enhanced Response: The team will ensure a timely and skilled response to outreach requests and emergencies throughout the county. • Streamlined Service Connection: On-site assessment by TCHSC specialists will enable immediate client connection to vital services, mitigating potential conflicts. • Strengthened Collaboration: The team will foster a more unified approach to homelessness intervention, maximizing the impact of both TCHSC and the Sheriffs Office efforts. • Enhanced Case Management: Potential clients can immediately connect with a skilled case manager in the field, allowing for a quicker assessment of needs and enrollment in services. By strengthening our outreach and case management capabilities, we hope to proactively connect individuals with services before they enter the shelter system, assist them in finding permanent housing solutions, and work to reduce the overall burden placed on county government, law enforcement, and local social service agencies. We are committed to working collaboratively with Indian River County and our community collaborators as the county undergoes transitions under HB1365, while prioritizing the well-being of our most vulnerable residents. 258