The Beaches Homeless Coalition

by Ellen Glasser
President, Beaches Homeless Coalition Inc.

Working with many volunteers and several churches over the last two years,  the Beaches Homeless Coalition (BHC) recently became “official” as a 501c(3) non-profit organization.  It is our unwavering mission at the BHC to serve the homeless people of the beaches by meeting them "where they are" in life and providing services to them through a robust network of community partners who are dedicated to treating them with dignity and compassion.  

Formed as a corporation, the BHC is a secular organization that assists host organizations and volunteers to provide food, meals, temporary shelter, clothing, hygiene services, transportation, and other assistance to homeless people at the beach communities of Duval County.  Grounded in our faith, we support church-hosted events periodically throughout the year, and we also mobilize to assist with temporary weather-related emergency sheltering.

There is no homeless shelter per se at the beaches, and the beaches are often overlooked for public dollars to help the unhoused. Many of our local homeless simply do not and will not seek out shelter or services in Jacksonville. They tell us it is safer at the beach.  And not all seek services at beaches-based Mission House.  Even if they did, it is often at capacity.

BHC serves to fill gaps in our social service system and the nonprofit sector, not compete with them.  We are about rallying people, not profits. We wholeheartedly support the wraparound work of Mission House, the Sulzbacher Center, Changing Homelessness, and other organizations in Jacksonville and the beaches. We support beach municipalities as they deal with issues related to the homeless community, and we support the City of Jacksonville in times of emergency, or when emergency shelters and cooling/warming centers are opened.  We are friendly faces who hope to build trust between all parties.

It is estimated that there are between 150-200 unhoused persons at the beaches, although other metrics may suggest the numbers are lower.  Efforts to collect data on this number can often fall short, as most homeless try not to be noticed.  They hide in plain sight.  We are also seeing more families. In addition, we are monitoring the impact of a new law that disallows public camping.  

There are many reasons for a person to be homeless – hard luck, job loss, soaring housing costs, medical issues, divorce, substance abuse, and mental health issues. We strive to offer our guests safety for the few hours they are our guests and point them to any services they might need.  We do our best to educate the community that we shouldn’t paint homeless people with one broad brush. There are some who can work to live productive lives, and some who need access to services.  We always try to provide accurate information, and we work with all three beaches police departments. 

Atlantic Beach resident, Tracy Gebeaux, is our founder and inspiration, having once been homeless due to a job loss.  For many years, he has been a strong voice for the beaches through efforts, like Jax Beaches Brothers Keeper and Love Patrol, to deliver food, supplies, and support.  For example, every Sunday, his Love Patrol delivers breakfast and kindness to 50 or more homeless people.  

Tracy had a dream to create an environment for regular “compassion events” at the beaches.  After I left office as Atlantic Beach Mayor in 2022, Tracy approached me to ask if I would partner with him to help shape the BHC.  Because I lost my stepson Nate to homelessness, this opportunity came to me at the right time in my life, as I had been searching for how I could serve this vulnerable population locally.

BHC found an early partner with Community Presbyterian Church (CPC) in Atlantic Beach.  Like many churches, they had done previous outreach for the homeless, and they previously had hosted cold night shelter overnight events. Many had shut down during the pandemic. It is gratifying that today so many of these churches are renewing their efforts. 

This winter, BHC proudly supported eight cold night shelters at four different churches.  With help from Mission House, these churches work closely together when temperatures dip below 40 degrees to see if any can open overnight.  Over 770 were allowed hot meals and a safe, warm place to sleep!

In the last year, these and other churches have worked together with BHC through an informal group known as “North Beaches Ministries," to host over a dozen overnight compassion events for the beaches homeless.  Each event is a little different, offering showers, clothing, new shoes, haircuts & shaves, insurance sign-ups, concerts, and movies.  

I have been struck by the fact that, at every event, I meet volunteers from many churches who work side-by-side to help the homeless.  No silos, no judgment, no complaining, no politics – just compassion for our fellow man. 

I am proud to say that Tracy’s and my dream is coming true.  We are so grateful to our Board and all those churches, people, and organizations that have stepped up to help us. Love is a team sport!  If you want to learn more, please check out the Beaches Homeless Coalition website.

About Ellen Glasser

Ellen serves as President of Beaches Homeless Coalition Inc. a 501(c)(3) corporation and is Former Mayor of City of Atlantic Beach (2017-2022)