SHARE IT!

Community Court- A Cure for Homelessness?

By Cynthia Archbold

Ashley Cacicedo-Surdoval with Commissioner Steven Glassman

Ashley Cacicedo Surdoval with Fort Lauderdale Commissioner Steven Glassman, with staffers Nancy Fry and Erica Francheschi

Providing homes for families is a cause that Ashley Cacicedo-Surdoval has dedicated her life.

“Having a roof over your head is the foundation for everything. By giving someone a home it’s far beyond just shelter. It’s a place for safety and stability. It’s a place to rest your head after a long day. It’s a place for kids to do their homework and thrive. Housing should be a right for everyone.”

Ashley is the energetic Chair of the Young Leaguers of the LWVPBC; professionally, she works as Community Outreach Coordinator for Commissioner Steven Glassman City of Fort Lauderdale—District 2  who strongly supports the city’s very active Neighbor Support Department addressing homelessness. Ashley has dedicated her career to providing homes to families, including recent work as special events coordinator for Habitat of Humanity of the Palm Beaches where she still volunteers.

“I work with the neighborhoods and the residents of Fort Lauderdale to ensure that their voices are heard and that the city is meeting their needs. I connect neighbors with different departments and work to resolve their concerns.”

Some of these neighbors are homeless; many through misfortune–the fatal combination of losing jobs and escalating rents. Others are homeless because of past addiction issues, and or petty crimes that keep them from being employed.

Fort Lauderdale is trying to heal its homeless problem through a pilot program known as Community Court run through the Neighborhood Support division—it’s the first program of its kind in the state.

The City’s website says “In November 2018, the average daily jail population in Broward County was roughly 3,500. The City of Fort Lauderdale has strived to reduce that number by creating Florida’s first Community Court. The City was one of five jurisdictions in the nation to receive a federal grant to implement the specialized court. There are nearly 70 Community Courts throughout the country. This important program addresses the needs of at-large, homeless, petty crime and municipal ordinance offenders.”

How Community Court Works

Every Wednesday morning at 9:00 in City Hall, 100 N. Andrews Avenue, homeless citizens have a chance to explain their situations to a judge, take hot showers, and get free lunches.  All participants in Community Court must complete 10 hours of community service prior to graduation and a chance for placement in a shelter or home. They need to find jobs in order to qualify for homes.

“Community Court focuses on the root causes of each defendant’s issues, applying appropriate therapeutic and community service-based punishments,” the website says. “Participants must choose to take an active role in their rehabilitation and agree to give back to the community in the form of community service, once their situation is stable,” according to the Fort Lauderdale website.

Ashley says, “I think the program is changing lives. I hope the program expands and I hope other cities and counties start having programs like this because I feel like the more resources people have, the more people will get off the street. Everybody deserves a home, a place to sleep. They deserve a stable situation.”

Community Court is a collaborative effort of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, the City of Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, the Clerk of Courts, the Office of the Public Defender, the State Attorney’s Office, and several service and treatment providers, including Henderson Behavioral Health. It is an innovative approach to handling certain low-level misdemeanor crimes and violations of municipal ordinances and is designed to engage the community, help offenders and assist individuals in need of services and resources.

1 Comment