Chief and Sheriff to contract for shelter beds

Police Chief Loran Lueders told Historic City News that a redesign to accommodate safety requirements at the St. Francis House shelter will result in eight beds being assigned for City Police and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.

The city and county will split the $36,000 annual cost for the beds at the Washington Street homeless shelter.

Lueders told city commissioners at their regular meeting Monday night that the available beds will utilized, primarily, by persons found camping on public property that have been directed to the shelter by law enforcement officers.

St. Francis House plans to be in compliance with all safety requirements by October 1st in order to provide the eight beds.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News archive photograph