Homeless Are Virus Free In Jacksonville

The Florida Times-Union reports a citywide test of homeless shelters in Jacksonville found no cases of COVID-19 infections among the 679 residents. Authorities were so surprised they asked for re-testing to make sure the results were accurate. “It was a joyful surprise,” said Cindy Funkhouser, president and CEO of Sulzbacher, whose downtown shelter and Sulzbacher Village were part of the testing.

Changing Homelessness, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit, worked with Jacksonville homeless shelters in a partnerships with Community Solutions, a national nonprofit, and Quest Diagnostics to do the tests at homeless shelters last week.

In addition to the Sulzbacher sites, testing teams from UF Health Jacksonville and Sulzbacher went to Trinity Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Clara White Mission, Hubbard House, City Rescue Mission and both Urban Rest Stop locations in downtown.

Jacksonville and Phoenix were the only two cities that got the comprehensive testing from the national partnership, which gave inroads to testing supplies that would not have been available otherwise.