Putnam County Homelessness Solutions Coalition

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  • Senseless Violence in Our Backyard: The Assault on James Ellerby Demands Stronger Policing to Protect Every Citizen — Including the Homeless

    Senseless Violence in Our Backyard: The Assault on James Ellerby Demands Stronger Policing to Protect Every Citizen — Including the Homeless

    Palatka, Florida — In the early hours of a recent April morning, an elderly man known affectionately throughout Putnam County as “Uncle James” was brutally beaten in a local business complex. James Ellerby, described by neighbors and friends as a harmless, friendly fixture around town — often seen at places like Dollars or More, joining Bible studies, and chatting with anyone who passed by — now lies in critical condition. He was life-flighted following the assault on April 8, 2026.* Community members who have known him for years emphasize that, while he might occasionally be loud or have a drink, he posed no threat to anyone. “He didn’t deserve to be beaten,” one resident posted, echoing the heartbreak felt across local Facebook groups. A suspect, Jacquez Stephon Miller, 26, was quickly apprehended and is being held in Putnam County. The community has rallied with prayers and held a vigil “by his tree,” with family permission. Yet the speed of the arrest does not erase the horror of the unprovoked attack — or the deeper questions it raises about safety in our streets.

    Details regarding Mr. Ellerby’s assault are drawn from community accounts shared in local social media. The PCHSC will update this post as additional verified reporting becomes available.

    A Neighbor, Not a Problem

    The Putnam County Homelessness Solutions Coalition was built on a foundational conviction: people experiencing homelessness are our neighbors. Not problems to be managed. Not eyesores to be displaced. Neighbors — with names, histories, relationships, and the same right to safety as anyone else in this county.

    This is not an isolated tragedy. It is a painful illustration of how quickly senseless violence can strike the most vulnerable among us. James Ellerby’s story shines a harsh light on the daily risks faced by elderly residents, those with visible challenges, and — crucially — people experiencing homelessness who often gather in similar public or semi-public spaces. When someone can be beaten so severely in a business complex in our own community, it forces us to ask: Are our current policing strategies doing enough to prevent these acts before they happen?

    The research is clear and consistent: people experiencing homelessness are more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators. [ABC News] In Los Angeles, for example, unhoused people were suspects in 11% of homicides — but victims in 23% of homicides. [ABC News] The National Coalition for the Homeless has documented nearly 2,000 incidents of violence against people who were homeless over a 23-year period, with at least 588 unhoused victims violently killed simply for being unhoused. [National Coalition for the Homeless] And less than half of violent victimizations of people experiencing homelessness are ever reported to police. [National Coalition for the Homeless] The violence is real, pervasive, and largely invisible.

    The Pattern Behind the Incident

    Too often, law enforcement is left to respond after the damage is done. An arrest is important, but prevention saves lives. We need better policing — proactive, community-oriented, and adequately resourced — to protect all citizens, especially those who lack stable housing or social safety nets. The misperception that people without homes are perpetrators, rather than victims, of violence contributes to both criminalizing homelessness and dehumanizing people without housing. [Ucsf] Homeless individuals are disproportionately targeted for violence precisely because they are visible, exposed, and sometimes stereotyped as “problems” rather than neighbors. They sleep in parks, under bridges, or near storefronts where help is scarce after dark. Attacks most commonly occur in locations where homeless individuals tend to be more visible and thus more vulnerable to people passing by. [National Coalition for the Homeless] Without consistent police presence, trained officers who know the community, and partnerships with local advocates, these spaces become danger zones rather than safe places to exist.

    What Better Policing Looks Like in Putnam County

    What would better policing look like in Putnam County? It starts with increased, visible patrols in high-traffic areas where vulnerable residents congregate — not as harassment, but as genuine protection. It means officers trained in de-escalation and mental health crisis intervention, recognizing signs of vulnerability rather than defaulting to enforcement alone. The evidence base here is strong: a landmark randomized controlled trial with the Louisville Metro Police Department found that de-escalation training was associated with statistically significant declines in uses of force (−28.1%), citizen injuries (−26.3%), and officer injuries (−36.0%). [Train-de-trainer] More recent research from Tempe, Arizona found that trained officers were 58% less likely to injure community members. [National Policing Institute] Officers equipped to recognize vulnerability — rather than defaulting to enforcement alone — produce better outcomes for everyone.

    It requires stronger collaboration between the Palatka Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and community organizations that work directly with the homeless population. The Lancet has noted that improvements in multiagency collaboration — between homeless shelters, health-care services, and police forces — are likely to be important in reducing the risk of victimization in marginalized populations affected by homelessness. [The Lancet] When police and advocates share information and resources, small problems don’t escalate into life-threatening violence.

    Safety and Housing Are the Same Issue

    We cannot keep treating violence against the homeless as somehow less urgent than violence against housed residents. Every citizen deserves to feel safe walking our streets or simply existing in public spaces. James Ellerby’s assault reminds us that the line between “housed” and “unhoused” is thinner than we think — anyone can find themselves in a vulnerable position through illness, job loss, or age. Ignoring the risks faced by our unhoused neighbors doesn’t make the rest of us safer; it erodes safety for everyone.

    The fewer people living unsheltered in Putnam County, the fewer people are exposed to the risks Uncle James faced that morning. Research has found that rehousing older adults may directly reduce the risk of experiencing violent victimization. [PubMed Central] A UCLA study found that housing assistance reduces the probability of committing a crime by 80 percent and lowers emergency department visits by 80 percent within 18 months. [National Low Income Housing Coalition] Studies show that areas with housing assistance programs experience decreased violent crime and improved public safety. [Casebook]

    This is why the PCHSC’s push toward Functional Zero — a measurable, achievable goal of ending chronic homelessness in Putnam County — is not just a housing goal. It is a public safety goal. It is a violence prevention goal. Permanent supportive housing, low-barrier shelter access, and robust street outreach are not “soft” responses to a hard problem. They are upstream interventions that reduce harm before it occurs. Reactive policing without housing solutions is a band-aid on a wound that keeps reopening. We need both.

    A Call to Action

    Local leaders, law enforcement administrators, and city and county officials must act now. Allocate resources for community policing programs. Invest in training that equips officers to prevent violence rather than just investigate it. Support permanent shelter solutions (such as the R.I.S.E. Initiative) and outreach teams that reduce the number of people forced to live exposed on our streets. These are not “soft on crime” measures — they are smart, effective crime prevention that honors the dignity of every human being in Putnam County.

    As friends, neighbors, and fellow residents continue to pray for James Ellerby’s full recovery and for justice, let us turn that collective concern into concrete demands. Contact your city commissioners and county leaders. Urge them to prioritize funding for enhanced policing strategies that protect the vulnerable. Stand with local coalitions working on homelessness solutions, because safe housing and safe streets go hand in hand.

    James Ellerby did not deserve this vicious beating. No one does. But thoughts and prayers alone will not stop the next attack. We need better policing — smarter, stronger, and more connected to the community — to shield every citizen, housed or unhoused, from senseless violence. The time to demand it is now, before another “Uncle James” becomes the next headline.

    To get involved or learn more, visit PutnamHomelessSolutions.org or PutnamHomelessCoalition.org

     

    A note on sourcing: Incident details regarding James Ellerby are drawn from community-shared accounts, as regional media had not published a verified report at the time of writing. All statistical claims are sourced from peer-reviewed research, the National Coalition for the Homeless, the National Policing Institute, and the Urban Institute. Full citations available on request.

  • The Hidden Price Tag: Why Solving Homelessness is a Fiscal Win

    We often hear the objection that building housing capacity is “too expensive.” But this assumes the status quo is free. It’s not. In fact, the status quo has a hidden price tag that far exceeds the cost of solutions—we just pay it in the most inefficient ways possible.

    In the boardroom, we talk about ROI (Return on Investment). In community leadership, we talk about the Social Safety Net. Usually, these two worlds are treated as opposites. But when it comes to homelessness in Putnam County, the fiscal reality is simple: Doing nothing is the most expensive option we have.

    In our upcoming post “‘Myths of Homelessness’ Part 6: “It’s Too Expensive to Fix””, we’ll break down these costs with specific Putnam County data and show exactly where your tax dollars are going right now. But first, let’s look at the national and state picture.

    As we outlined in our recent post on the gap between compassion and capacity, current efforts provide a vital safety net—yet systemic gaps (like dedicated chronic and veterans housing) keep people cycling through crises.

    The “Emergency Only” Expense Loop

    When a neighbor has no path to stability, they don’t stop costing the county money; they just cost it in the most inefficient ways possible. Without a “Welcome Home” or chronic housing options, the system defaults to:  

    • Emergency Services: A single ER visit for a preventable condition costs thousands—often absorbed by the taxpayer or the hospital. Nationally and in Florida communities, chronic homelessness drives frequent crisis use, with unhoused individuals costing taxpayers $30,000–$50,000+ per person per year in emergency healthcare, law enforcement, and related services.
    • Law Enforcement: Officers trained for public safety find themselves navigating housing crises—work they’re neither equipped nor budgeted for. 
    • The Judicial Cycle: Jailing someone for “crimes of survival” (like sleeping in public) costs a daily rate that far exceeds the cost of supportive housing.

    From “System Consumer” to “Community Contributor”

    The goal of the Putnam County Homelessness Solutions Coalition isn’t just to provide charity; it’s to move people out of the “Emergency Loop.”  

    When we provide a path to Stability, we change the economic math:  

    • Reduced Burden: Frequent users of emergency services see a massive drop in crisis incidents once they are housed—proven supportive housing models consistently show 40–60% reductions in emergency service use, hospitalizations, and jail time, with net taxpayer savings of $900–$29,400 per person annually with North Central Florida examples estimating ~$29,000 in annual taxpayer savings per person housed.
    • Resource Reallocation: Police and EMS can focus on public safety and life-saving emergencies rather than navigating the gaps in our housing system. 
    • The Local Economy: Stability allows for employment. Employment leads to local spending. More importantly, stability allows people to rebuild their lives—to work, to contribute, to become neighbors rather than statistics. This is how we begin to restore the tax base.

    Investing in Solutions, Not Symptoms

    If you ran a business where a specific machine kept breaking down, you wouldn’t just keep paying for expensive, daily emergency repairs forever. You’d invest in fixing the machine so it could get back to work. And if your competitors were getting better performance with 30-68% lower costs? You’d be studying their model immediately.

    Our current system is paying for “emergency repairs” every single day. The Coalition is here to fix the machine.  

    By filling the gaps we identified in our Resource Gap Analysis, we aren’t just being “nice.” We are being smart. Recent analyses of proven Housing First models show supportive housing often costs 30–68% less overall than the status quo—yielding returns like $1.44 in savings for every $1 invested. We are choosing to invest in a permanent foundation that yields a better return for every resident of Putnam County.

    Want to see what this looks like specifically in Putnam County? In our upcoming ‘Myths of Homelessness’ series Part 6: “It’s Too Expensive to Fix” breaks down the local costs with researched and compiled data. Subscribe to the Insights or Like/Follow our Facebook Page so you don’t miss a post. 

    The Coalition is building that permanent foundation. The fiscal case is clear. The moral case is clear. What remains is the choice: continue paying the hidden price tag, or invest in solutions that work. If you’re ready to be part of the solution, join us.

  • After Grants Pass: Why Putnam County Needs the Gloria Johnson Act

    The landscape of homelessness advocacy changed on June 28, 2024, when the Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision allowed for the punishing of homeless individuals even when no alternative shelter is available. In response, the Putnam County Homelessness Solutions Coalition is working to introduce a new path forward: The Gloria Johnson Act—a model policy named after Gloria Johnson of Grants Pass, Oregon, and now being adopted by communities nationwide—offers a blueprint for protecting human dignity while creating smarter solutions.

    What is the Gloria Johnson Act?

    Our draft of the “Gloria Johnson Anti-Cruelty to Floridians Experiencing Homelessness Act” is designed to protect the basic human rights of our neighbors while creating a smarter, more cost-effective system for our county.

    Key Pillars of Our Proposed Act:

    • Decriminalizing Survival: The Act would eliminate counter-productive criminal penalties for “life-sustaining activities”—like sleeping or resting—when adequate alternative indoor space is not available.
    • Defining “Adequate” Shelter: We aren’t just talking about a mat on a floor. Our Act defines adequate space as accessible, at no charge, and able to accommodate disabilities, possessions, and even pets or partners.
    • Shifting Resources to Solutions: By decriminalizing rest, our local government can redirect resources from law enforcement and jailing toward addressing the root causes of poverty.
    • Legal Protection: Under the Act, someone cannot be punished for sleeping outside if the government cannot prove that safe, accessible shelter was actually available to them.

    A Proven Approach

    The Gloria Johnson Act isn’t just a good idea—it’s a proven model. Since early 2025, versions of the Gloria Johnson Act have been introduced in 11 different state legislatures (including California and Maryland). A federal version—the Housing Not Handcuffs Act—was reintroduced in Congress by Rep. Pramila Jayapal in 2025, using very similar language.

    The core principle of the “Right to Rest” has already been signed into law in Rhode Island (2012), Connecticut (2013), and Illinois (2013), where Homeless Bill of Rights protections have reduced criminalization while protecting constitutional rights. Putnam County has the opportunity to join this growing movement and be a leader in Florida.

    Why This Matters for Putnam County

    Fining and jailing people who have nowhere to go doesn’t stop homelessness; it only creates a vicious cycle of debt and criminal records that makes finding a home even harder. We believe in Housing, not Handcuffs.

    Be a Part of the Solution

    We are currently working to bring this draft to the attention of our legislators. Your support and your voice are what will turn this draft into a reality for Putnam County.

    Join us at our next meeting:

    Date: February 20th, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

    Location: First Baptist Church of Palatka

    Can’t attend? Here’s how you can help:

    • Contact your Putnam County Commissioner and urge them to support the Gloria Johnson Act (template drafts available to download on the Gloria Johnson Act page )
    • Share this message with your neighbors, faith community, and on social media

  • The Portal is LIVE: Moving Beyond Snapshots to Real-Time Solutions

    We are excited to announce that the Putnam County Homelessness Solutions Coalition Partner Portal is officially live and ready for community use. This collaborative tool represents months of planning with local partners to address a critical gap in how we understand and respond to homelessness in our community.

    For too long, our community has relied on the annual Point-In-Time (PIT) count to understand the scope of homelessness in our area. While the PIT count is a necessary tool, we know it only provides a single snapshot in time, and often undercounts those in need. It doesn’t capture the daily shifts, the families in transition, the individuals who avoid the count due to safety concerns, or the hidden gaps in our local resources.

    Why This Portal Changes the Game

    This portal was built to be a living, breathing map of need in Putnam County. By centralizing our data and communication, we can:

     

    • Improve Accuracy & Completeness: Provide a more comprehensive, ongoing picture of those seeking assistance—capturing trends across weeks and months, not just a single January night.
    • Find the Gaps in Real-Time: Identify exactly where resources are missing as needs emerge, enabling faster response and strategic planning.
    • Coordinate Care & Reduce Duplication: Create a shared view across organizations so we can ensure seamless referrals and that no neighbor falls through the cracks.
    • Strengthen Advocacy: Build the data foundation needed to pursue state and federal funding, demonstrating actual need with evidence that goes beyond the annual snapshot.

     

    A Call to Action for Our Partners

    The infrastructure is built. The portal is ready. Now we need YOU to bring it to life.

    We’re calling on all local nonprofits, faith-based organizations, case managers, and community organizers with “boots on the ground” to:

    • Start logging contacts when someone seeks assistance related to housing instability
    • Update resource availability so referrals reflect what’s actually accessible
    • Share this tool with your networks and coalition partners

    Why Your Participation Matters:

    The data is only as good as the information we put into it. Every entry you make helps us build a more complete and honest picture of homelessness in Putnam County. This isn’t just data entry—it’s documentation that can help us secure the funding and resources our community desperately needs and deserves. The more consistently we use this portal, the stronger our case becomes when advocating for state and federal support.

    Get Started:

    Together, we can move from guessing to knowing—and from knowing to solving.

  • Putnam’s Path Forward – Formalizing the R.I.S.E. Program

    Today marked a major milestone for our community. Members of the Putnam County homelessness advocacy community met this morning to formalize the R.I.S.E. (Residential Initiative for Stability and Employment) program.

    While you may have seen the recent coverage on Action News Jax highlighting the urgent need for shelter in Palatka, there is much more happening behind the scenes to ensure this isn’t just a temporary fix, but a permanent solution.

    What Happened Today?

    The R.I.S.E. program was officially formalized as a collaborative initiative. This program is designed to be the “front door” for those seeking stability, but it is currently awaiting the next crucial step: City and County approval.

    The “Brain” Behind the Mission

    While a shelter provides the beds, our new Resource Hub provides the data. To make R.I.S.E. successful and state-compliant, we are implementing:

    • The Local PIT (Point-in-Time) Count: Moving beyond national estimates to get real, local numbers of our neighbors in need.
    • Gloria Johnson Act Alignment: Ensuring every step we take meets the new 2026 legislative standards for safety and accountability.
    • The Partner Portal: A centralized “command center” where local churches and agencies can coordinate resources in real-time.

    What’s Next?

    The R.I.S.E. program must now go before city and county officials for final approval. We aren’t just asking for a building; we are presenting a fully integrated, data-backed system to end the cycle of homelessness in Putnam County.

    Want to help? Check out our Volunteer Page and Join The Coalition page to see how you or your church can get involved in the upcoming shelter support teams.

    Join our Facebook Group and Like/Follow our Facebook Page