Managing the Homelessness in Daytona Beach

The DB City Commission is hosting a workshop regarding the homeless on Wednesday, October 15, from 4-5:15 pm at City Hall. Last year, the Chamber's Homeless Issues Committee worked to facilitate a 10-Year-Plan to End Homelessness for the Volusia-Flagler Coalition for the Homeless - a blueprint to guide the community on how to address the issue in the coming years.

A major point was that we not necessarily seek continued funding but to "redirect" money that is already being spent and use if for different purposes. For example, Halifax Health has a physician at the Homeless Assistance Center each week to treat the individuals for routine ailments. At the same time, this saves Halifax Hospital significant money in their ER.

The Chamber is also encouraging other Volusia communities to recognize their responsibilities regarding homeless individuals in their own backyard instead of letting it be perceived as just a "Daytona problem."

The Chamber sees addressing the homeless as an economic development issue, i.e., any community with an overflow of homeless has an evermore difficult hurdle to land new business.

How would you suggest we seek to manage the homeless situation in the Daytona Beach area? Has the local homeless situation had an impact on your business?