Home Again St. Johns

06/14/2026

The UF Health St. Johns Mobile Outreach Clinic will be at Home Again St. Johns' Dining with Dignity, located at 92 S. Dixie Highway, at the corner of SR 207, behind the Winn-Dixie plaza on Wednesday, June 17th from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Services offered are Wildflower Healthcare adult outreach clinic, primary care, chronic disease management and education, diagnostic testing, wound care, and cancer screening. Brooks Rehabilitation provides support.

The mobile outreach clinic intends to "improve health outcomes and quality of life for people in vulnerable populations by providing clinical care and connections to resources that help advance the physical, social, and economic health of the communities we serve.”

06/13/2026

Congratulations to our Board Member, Commissioner Cynthia Garris, on her new role as mayor-elect for the City of St. Augustine. ❤️

Congratulations to Cynthia Garris on becoming the mayor elect of the City of St. Augustine! As you begin this new chapter as Mayor Elect, we wish you continued success, wisdom, and strength as you lead our city forward. May your tenure be filled with progress, unity, and opportunities that benefit all citizens of St. Augustine.We look forward to seeing the positive impact of your leadership on our community. Wishing you much success and many blessings!

06/13/2026

Discover how Veterans Village is making a difference for local veterans. 🇺🇸

In a recent episode of The 904 Now's St. Augustine Chronicles, Karen Zander from 97Park, Residential & Commercial Real Estate, interviewed Executive Director Ellen Walden about Home Again St. Johns’ Veterans Village.

Ellen discussed how this community, located at 427 Anastasia Blvd., provides both transitional and permanent affordable housing for veterans. It also offers comprehensive support services, including healthcare connections, mental health assistance, addiction recovery resources, and employment help, all designed to help veterans regain stability and a sense of belonging.

Please help support our efforts by making a donation today at https://homeagainsaintjohns.org/donatenow.

Together, we can change lives and break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in St. Johns County. If you would like to get involved or need assistance, please call Home Again St. Johns at (904) 436-5382.

06/11/2026

June is National Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month.

This Men’s Mental Health Month, let’s celebrate the courage it takes to seek help. Supporting men's mental health means embracing every emotion and reaching out for help when needed. Let’s break the stigma together.

If you’re thinking about su***de, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, the 988 Su***de & Crisis Lifeline network is available 24/7 across the United States by calling or texting 988.

06/09/2026

A safe place to rest, recharge, and get support.

At Home Again St. Johns, our Drop-In Center at 197 SR 16 is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with meals served at 3:30 p.m.

Laundry and shower facilities are available from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and we are closed on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. We offer case management, resource and referral, help with benefit applications, employment-related support, and personalized assistance, along with showers and meals from Dining With Dignity.

Together, we can change lives and break the cycle of homelessness and poverty in St. Johns County; if you need assistance or would like to help, please call Home Again St. Johns at (904) 436-5382.

06/07/2026

Meet Monica Ortiz-Sanchez, a member of our Board of Directors.

Monica dedicated 25 years to serving the children of New York City after a decade in the accounting field. She holds a B.S. in Accounting and an M.S. in Education from Lehman College (CUNY), a C.A.S. in Educational Administration from New York University, and a doctoral degree from the same institution.

Throughout her career with the NYC Department of Education, Monica has worked in various roles, including teacher, Assistant Principal for Administration in Queens, and Principal of one of the Bronx's most challenging schools. In just two years, she transformed this failing school into a successful institution, facilitating its transition to a campus for multiple schools.

Afterward, she became the Director of Student Suspension, overseeing expulsion processes and serving on a task force for underperforming schools. Monica believes in students’ potential and has partnered with organizations to provide essential resources, such as clinics for dental care, mental health support, and conflict resolution.

After over two decades of service, Monica retired due to medical reasons and is now pursuing her third career as an artist.

Home Again St. Johns is committed to raising awareness and advocating for the homeless in our community, aiming to improve their quality of life and promote self-sufficiency through coordinated resources and programs.

06/06/2026

June is PTSD Awareness Month.

"It’s hard for most people to discuss homelessness without discussing mental health.

Even though only one-fourth of homeless people have serious mental health conditions such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, stereotypes persist. In reality, many mental health conditions do not contribute to harmful stereotypes and may even result from homelessness. One of these, which probably is much more rampant than anyone truly knows, is post-traumatic stress disorder.

PTSD presents in all kinds of ways. It’s not exclusive to war veterans and doesn’t just look like the jumpiness and jitteriness you see in old films. All kinds of traumatic experiences can lead to someone having PTSD.

Examples include:
Being abused as a child
Domestic violence
Sexual assault
Life-threatening accidents, such as a car accident or natural disaster
Assaults, robberies, muggings, and other violent crimes
Exposure to extreme violence; for example, witnessing domestic violence as a child or viewing depictions of violence.”

https://invisiblepeople.tv/homelessness-and-ptsd-why-they-go-hand-in-hand/

06/05/2026

Recent reports indicate a significant decrease in drug-related deaths in the region from 2023 to 2024, with fewer fatalities linked to substances like fentanyl, co***ne, and oxycodone.

This progress is partially due to the widespread availability of naloxone, a medication that can quickly reverse opioid overdoses (excluding co***ne) in the community.

Thanks to Discover & Recover St. Johns County, Home Again St. Johns has established a naloxone distribution box, affectionately named “Barney,” at our campus located at 197 SR 16. To prepare for an opioid emergency, we encourage you to visit Home Again St. Johns at 197 SR 16 and pick up naloxone from “Barney.”

06/03/2026

Free meals are available for kids and teens while schools are closed. Visit SummerBreakSpot.com to find a site near you.

06/02/2026

Thank you to St. Augustine Social for their support of Dining with Dignity.

"The city announced the new location in October 2025 as part of a broader, multi-phase initiative to better assist St. Augustine’s homeless population. The pavilion was built to replace the previous outdoor meal site with a more functional and dignified setting, including a covered area protected from the sun, tables, bathrooms, and space for additional supportive services.

City Commissioner Cynthia Garris said at the time that the facility would allow people with the greatest needs in the community to be served “a meal truly with dignity.”

Since opening, the city has continued improving the site. Two bike racks have already been installed, with four more planned. A barbecue grill has also been added with input from the fire marshal. UF Health’s mobile health bus continues serving the site monthly, though staff noted that staging and logistics are still being refined."

Learn more at https://www.staugustinesocial.com/dining-with-dignity-pavilion-sees-62-increase-in-use-as-city-works-toward-showers-and-laundry.

St. Augustine’s Dining with Dignity program is seeing a significant increase in use since moving into its new pavilion, offering a more permanent and welcoming space for residents experiencing homelessness or food insecurity. During a recent city commission meeting, Community Services Director Jai...