County’s Human Services Earns National Award for Homeless Resource Center
The Palm Beach County Human Services Division has been recognized with a 2015 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for the county’s Homeless Resource Center program. The NACo awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that enhance services for residents.
The Senator Philip D. Lewis Center, located at 1000 45th Street in West Palm Beach, is the area’s first regional full-service homeless resource facility. It serves as the single point of access to connect homeless individuals and families to assessments, services, referrals and housing.
The Palm Beach County Homeless Resource Center model was selected for this award for its implementation of a community solution contained in the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Palm Beach County. To date, implementation has proven that the Homeless Resource Center model works. Accomplishments of the center include:
- creating a central access point in Palm Beach County
- uniting services under a coordinated process
- implementing a campaign to educate the public on homelessness
- standardizing law enforcement procedures when dealing with homeless
- establishing universal assessment and intake procedures across the homeless continuum of care
- encouraging the collaboration of multiple providers to limit duplication and reduce administrative costs
- creating a Homeless Resource Center based on best practice models
- establishing one telephone number for everyone in Palm Beach County to call for homeless assistance
- significantly reducing the number of homeless
- improving outcomes and satisfaction of homeless persons served and
- prioritizing services to the most vulnerable.
The awards will be presented at NACo’s 2015 Annual Conference and Exposition, July 10-13, in Mecklenburg County, N.C.
