Orlando City Council approves millions in funding to address homelessness, mental health issues

ORLANDO, Fla. — According to Aspire Health Partners in Orlando, 40 percent of adults in the United States have experienced mental illness during the pandemic.

Experts say a large portion of that population can be found in urban communities.

READ: Return to cruising? Federal judge hears arguments in Florida’s cruise ship lawsuit

Verndale Johnson is a Parramore resident and mother whose son struggles with mental illness.

She says she worries about him every day, despite her best efforts to get him some help.

“The first diagnosis was bipolar. I took him back a few years ago, and it was schizophrenia,” Johnson says. “I’ve baker-acted him. I’ve trespassed him. He’s been arrested…”

READ: Stimulus update: IRS sends out next batch of stimulus checks

However, Johnson says nothing has worked, and her son remains on the streets.

“Because he’s gotten so intense and gotten worse, I really do need help.” Johnson says. “I’m not equipped to handle that. I thought with some of the support they have in Orlando, somebody would help me.”

The Orlando City Council recently approved nearly 3 million dollars in funding agreements that leveraged federal funds to help partner agencies care for those experiencing homelessness and mental health issues.

READ: US vaccine surplus grows by the day as expiration dates loom

In February, the Orlando Police Department created a community response team of experts who get dispatched to non-violent, mental health calls.

From March to April, the team responded to 210 non-violent calls for service, connecting a total of 227 people with treatment and support services.

“What we have done is pay enough attention to those that can’t be housed because of them being mentally ill, so they are still here in downtown Orlando and Parramore, and families are beginning to feel unsafe” Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill said. “We need to put more money into mental health and substance abuse and our homeless population.”

©2021 Cox Media Group