PENSACOLA, Fla. ( WKRG ) — Pensacola is looking for nonprofits that would build and place small, temporary shelters for the homeless on their properties.
With House Bill 1365 passing on Tuesday, the homeless are no longer allowed to sleep outside, including street benches or parks.
Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves said although he hopes funding for these homes will come through in the next legislative session, he and the city are not sitting idly by until then as they continue to navigate how to keep the safety of the Pensacola community.
Reeves plans to use roughly $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to buy these shelters.
He has asked the Northwest Florida Homelessness Reduction Task Force to survey which providers of Pensacola would want to place these shelters on their property.
Although not a permanent solution, these homes will keep occupants cool from the high temperatures and can be built in days.