Helping Those Experiencing Homelessness

The City of Melbourne, like so many other cities throughout the country, is experiencing an increase in homelessness and panhandling. Over the past several years, the City has collaborated with multiple nonprofit agencies to build capacity and make the best use of limited resources and funding to help those experiencing homelessness and those at risk of becoming homeless. 

What the City is Doing to Address Homelessness

The City of Melbourne works with local nonprofit partners and manages state and federal grant programs to help address the lack of affordable housing in our community and to help those who are experiencing homelessness. The City is also a member of the Brevard Continuum of Care (CoC)* and holds a position on the CoC Advisory Council to understand the current issues and obstacles and participate in solutions and difficulties.

Street to Home

Since 2016, the City of Melbourne has been a partner in the Street to Home program, which helps people who are living on the streets exit homelessness and transition into stable housing through a combination of targeted outreach and intensive case management. The City of Melbourne contributes $50,000 annually to fund a housing case manager for this effort, and also provides support from its Community Development and Melbourne Police departments.. 

In 2020 and 2021, the City designated an additional $400,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds toward bridge housing and other programs that helped those who were unsheltered or at imminent risk of becoming homeless utilizing community agencies, including Daily Bread, Steadytown, South Brevard Sharing Center and Family Promise of Brevard. 

Preventing Homelessness

The City of Melbourne’s Housing and Urban Improvement Division administers a variety of federal- and state-funded housing and community development programs that aim to provide affordable housing, housing assistance, neighborhood improvement, and supportive services for low-income residents. In 2023, the Melbourne City Council approved an additional homestead exemption of $25,000 to help residents over the age of 65 with limited income continue to afford to stay in their homes.

The City Council has also designated portions of the City’s Federal FY 2024-2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to go toward programs to prevent homelessness in our community. Family Promise of Brevard will receive $16,879 to assist people and households who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness, WAYS for Life will be given $15,000 to help young adults and teens as they age out of foster care, and $16,356 will be given to Edna W. Jackson Pantry/Greater Allen Development to provide hot meals, food, clothing, and personal hygiene projects year-round in the South Melbourne service area. 

Affordable Housing

The Melbourne City Council has approved incentives, including reduced setbacks, parking, square-footage minimums, along with impact fee waivers, in order to encourage more affordable housing development in the City of Melbourne.

City Council has also awarded $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to three affordable housing projects:

*A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a local planning body that is responsible for coordinating the funding and delivery of housing and services for people experiencing homelessness with the goal of achieving long-term housing stability. The Brevard CoC serves all of Brevard County, including its municipalities.

Panhandling

Panhandling takes place when an individual asks for an item of value either silently, by using a sign or a container, or by asking someone directly for money.

Panhandling at busy intersections creates a safety concern for the panhandler and the person giving the money. Some of the intersections where people are panhandling in the City of Melbourne have extremely narrow center medians, a large volume of high-speed traffic, and many distracted drivers. 

Giving a panhandler cash, in most circumstances, will not benefit that person long-term. According to local nonprofit charities who work with people in need:

  • Giving money to panhandlers encourages them to stay on the street asking for money instead of going to a service agency that can help them.
  • When panhandlers are given cash, they don’t have an incentive to pursue a job that will give them verifiable income that they can use to gain permanent housing.
  • Most cash given to homeless panhandlers is not used to support their basic needs of food and shelter.

How You Can Help

  • Instead of encouraging panhandling, consider giving your money to a local nonprofit that provides food, shelter and housing services for people in need.
  • Learn about the organizations working in our community to help people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. 
  • If you don’t want to or can’t give cash, get involved with an agency and give your time by volunteering.  Get involved and help spread the word. 

Where to Get Help

There are several local organizations in our community with a proven track record of helping those in need that  provide a range of services, including case management, financial assistance, food, hygiene, clothing, health care, and housing assistance. 

Below are links to local resources. We recommend contacting the organizations to confirm hours of operation and current program offerings. 

Services for Veterans:

 

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