Homeless Advisory Board
(HAB)
The HAB is an advisory board established by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) in 2007 to oversee the progress of the plan to end homelessness in Palm Beach County. The HAB is responsible for the following:
- Oversee progress of the plan to end homelessness in PBC.
- Make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding systematic changes, policy changes and funding needs.
- receive and comment to the PBC Board of County Commissioners on homeless legislation.
- Engage the business, healthcare and philanthropic communities to engage in ending homelessness.
Board Members
The Homeless Advisory Board (HAB) is a 14 member body. Each voting member gains membership through an appointment process. The HAB nominating committee submits names of nominees to the HAB for approval and submission to the Palm Beach County (PBC) Board of County Commissioners (BCC) who then in turn, appoints the nominee.
There are Sixteen (14) Core Member Seats that include representatives from the BCC, Palm Beach County Law Enforcement, PBC School District, Florida Department of Children and Families, PBC League of Cities, VA Medical Center, Homeless Coalition, Homeless and Housing Alliance, Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network, Economic Council Representatives (2 seats), formerly homeless individual, PBC Housing Authority and the Faith-based community.
History
The formulation of the Homeless Advisory Board occurred in May 2007 and was established by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). The BCC fashioned the HAB in such a way as to ensure that members possessed the authority to implement effective change. The Palm Beach County Homeless Advisory Board (HAB) advises members of the BCC on matters related to the issue of homelessness. HAB was chartered with the authority to gather community input on homelessness; review and comment to the BCC on homeless legislation; assist in the preparation and oversee implementation of Leading the Way Home; make funding recommendations to the BCC, and recruit private and public sector representatives to fund the homeless plan and increase membership of particular HAB committees.
The responsibilities for the HAB are:
- Review progress made in the County towards achieving the objectives identified in the Leading the Way Home and make recommendations to the BCC. The primary recommendations may include systematic changes, policy changes, and funding recommendations.
- Foster and promote cooperation between governmental agencies, community-based non-governmental non-profit organizations and business interests in order to ensure the efficient and timely implementation of Leading the Way Home.
- Provide information regarding the needs and other factors affecting the implementation of the Leading the Way Home within Palm Beach County.
- Determine roadblocks affecting program implementation and recommend corrective measures to the Board of County Commissioners.
- Raise funds in the business and private sectors to fund Leading the Way Home recommendations.
The Homeless Advisory Board is comprised of 14 members representing the school district, the BCC, businesses development board, municipalities, law enforcement, the Department of Children and Families, behavioral health system and The Homeless Coalition.