- November 1, 2024
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Flagler County Human Services, with the assistance of partner agencies, has helped transition six homeless people to permanent, supportive housing in the past two months, according to a news release by the county.
Marjorie Jones, or “Apple” or “Mom,” as her fellow homeless campers know her, was one of those people. Apple, who has been homeless for 5 1/2 years, made the decision a week before she turned 61.
“Finding housing that meets Apple’s needs was a process that took time and effort in bringing together the appropriate partners and resources,” said Janet Nickels, Human Services Division director.
There was collaboration between Human Services, the Flagler County Library, the Flagler County Department of Health, AdventHealth, the Sheltering Tree, the Volusia-Flagler County Coalition for the Homeless, the Neighborhood Center and Flagler Cares to make this happen.
Apple used to be a sketch artist who once managed an art gallery in Flagler Beach. A change in Apple’s family structure led to her homelessness.
“It will take time for Apple to successfully make this transition,” Nickels said. “As she set off to begin her new journey, Apple expressed grief at having to leave the people behind who she has come to consider her family.”
However, before she was able to move to her new home in DeLand, Apple broke her left hip after tripping over a chair leg at Firehouse Subs in Palm Coast in early March. She’s recuperating at an assisted living facility in Longwood and will be there until she’s able to put weight on her leg. She’s expected to transition to her new home in mid-April.
She expressed some frustration with the county.
“I feel like they can do a lot more, and they don’t,” she said. “They’re looking to just get rid of their problem, slipping it under the rug.”
Apple doesn’t have an income yet, and an expired driver’s license is her only form of identification.
“I’m happy, but it’s taking some adjustments,” she said. “I’ve been off the grid for so long.”
