Homeless woman shares experience; St. Johns County reaching out to property owners

Action News Jax has learned what St. Johns County  leaders are doing about a series of homeless camps neighbors found.

On Monday, Action News Jax reporter new signs of a handful of homeless camps in St. Johns County.

Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole went back out today to learn what conditions are like inside in the camps and what the county is doing about them.

St. Johns County Code Enforcement went out to the homeless campsite on State Road 207 yesterday, following my story on Monday.

Code Enforcement did see shopping carts with trash, but it wasn’t enough evidence from a legal standpoint to confirm it’s a homeless camp, according to Sarah Hand, one of the spokespeople for St. Johns County.

However, Hand said Code Enforcement is working to get in contact with the property owner.

Cole spoke to a lady who lives in the camp who said the people who leave trash behind make it bad for everyone else.

"You have to be a drug addict or alcoholic and if you're not either, you fall through the cracks."

A homeless woman, who wasn't comfortable showing her face or giving her name, told me she lives at the homeless camp on State Road 207 in St. Johns County.

She's been in the St. Augustine area since October 2018.

She says she was training in the U.S. Army at Fort Jackson, until her daughter drained her bank account.

"We suffer. Nobody wants to hire us or anything. It's been bad."

She told Cole it  can also be dangerous.

"I have a Taser and a buck knife. So I hold my own, so a lot of them won't mess with me.”

In November, the mayor of St. Augustine told Action News Jax there just aren't enough resources to help the homeless.

Cole asked the woman about the mayor's comments.

"There should be enough for those who have events beyond their control—happen to them, where they need a hand up, not a foot down."

Some neighbors are concerned with the trash left behind, but she tells me she is too.

“I wish there was a dumpster out here so I can put all of the mess -- in it.”

St. Johns County Code Enforcement also visited the homeless camp behind the Applebee’s on SR-312, on Tuesday.

They said there was enough evidence, (including trash, debris and a chair), to confirm this site as a homeless camp.

They’re also working to contact this property owner as well.

The St. Johns County Property Appraiser's website says the piece of land belongs to Flagler Hospital. Action News Jax Courtney Cole reached out to the hospital about the property.

Cole is still waiting to hear back.

Two of the other homeless camps I told you about on Monday are in within city of St. Augustine limits.

Cole put in calls to the city of St. Augustine today, and she’s waiting to hear back from them as well.

Cox Media Group