Housing Hub
The Housing Hub (the "Hub") was established in late 2020 to provide temporary residential housing services for unaccompanied males. The Board of County Commissioners committed funding to the Hub in FY24 for $600,000, and subsequently refunded the Hub in FY25 for $600,000.
Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council currently operates two branches of the Hub, one for men and one for women. Each Hub provides 24-hour monitors and access to case management, health services and benefits enrollment. Partnerships with the Salvation Army, Hands Clinic, United Against Poverty and Sarah's Kitchen provide in-kind services.
In FY23, 63 homeless clients were served in the men's Hub, with an average stay of 100 days. The average age of those served is 57 years old, with 71% of the clients exiting the program for permanent housing.
Veterans Shelter
On April 23, 2024, the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners approved entering into a sales and purchase agreement for $1.15 million to purchase a motel to convert into a shelter for homeless veterans. The shelter will be at 3455 US-1, Fort Pierce, FL 34946.
The County is currently identifying a shelter operator and renovating the property. Once complete, the shelter will provide 13 single occupancy rooms and office space for case management services. The shelter is expected to open in the summer of 2026.
Non-Congregate Shelter
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) into law, which provides over $1.9 trillion in relief to address the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, public health, State and local governments, individuals, and businesses. To address the need for homelessness assistance and supportive services, Congress appropriated $5 billion in ARP funds to be administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program to perform four activities that must primarily benefit qualifying individuals and families who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or in other vulnerable populations. These activities include: (1) development of affordable rental housing, (2) tenant-based rental assistance (TBRA), (3) provision of supportive services, and (4) acquisition and development of non-congregate shelter units.
HOME-ARP funds must be used to primarily benefit individuals or families from the following qualifying
populations:
- Homeless, as defined in section 103(a) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C.
11302(a));
- At-risk of homelessness, as defined in section 401(1) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance
Act (42 U.S.C. 11360(1));
- Fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or
human trafficking, as defined by the Secretary.
- In other populations where providing supportive services or assistance under section 212(a) of the
Act (42 U.S.C. 12742(a)) would prevent the family’s homelessness or would serve those with the
greatest risk of housing instability;
- Veterans and families that include a veteran family member who meet one of the preceding
criteria.
St. Lucie County was awarded $3.4 million in funding and is currently identifying an entity to design and construct a non-congregate shelter.
