JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For many people experiencing homelessness in Jacksonville, escaping the cycle can feel nearly impossible. The Salvation Army says getting people off the streets for good takes far more than a meal or a temporary place to sleep.
At the Tower Center of Hope, the Salvation Army is focused on long-term results — not short-term fixes.
Jesse York knows that cycle all too well. After losing his property and then his home with his mother-in-law following her death, York found himself back on the streets — uncertain where he would sleep from one night to the next.
“My property was taken from me, and I struggled for a long, long time, and I moved in with my mother-in-law. She passed away, so that put me back in the streets. You never know from one day to the next where I was gonna have to leave or where I’m gonna be able to spend the night,” York said.
Today, York is a resident at the Tower Center of Hope — and his outlook has changed dramatically.
“I love it here,” he said.
The Tower Center of Hope’s transitional housing program pairs residents with a dedicated case worker who helps them build life skills — from resume writing to financial planning — designed to set them up for lasting independence.
Dr. Minerva Torres, Social Services Director, says financial readiness is at the heart of their approach.
“When they come in, we wanna make sure that they’re financially ready to get back in society and pay rent, and then they won’t have to be back in the streets again. And we have an excellent relationship with the city, as well as JFRD, to make sure that we’re helping the single men that come here,” Torres said.
The facility can house up to 100 men at a time, and Torres says the mission is rooted in a deeper calling.
“Christ shows us that we help our brothers and sisters, and that’s exactly what we are doing at this facility,” she said.
For York, the simple act of having a safe place to rest has been life-changing.
“Being able to go in my room and go to sleep at night without somebody telling me that I gotta get up and go,” he said.
York says he is grateful for the opportunity to rebuild.
“I would like to thank God that I was put here and it’s a blessing,” he said.