Volusia office closes location after county employee accosted

"I'm homeless, carless, dogless, moneyless. I have nothing," said Rochelle Gantlett.

Rochelle Gantlett is just one of 120 homeless people who has been camping outside the Volusia County Administration Center for weeks, officials said it's become a safe place for them to congregate.

"Over time people are coming out of the woods, they're coming out of back alleys, they're getting out of jail. They're getting out of an unfortunate situation and they're going there because they know, they're not getting arrested and there are services provided there," said Josh Wagner of Volusia County Council.

But the safe haven isn't safe for county employees. The property appraisal office closed its doors on Monday and relocated to DeLand and New Smyrna Beach after it said a homeless person accosted a county employee.

"I don't have a problem with online. I want a staff where I can speak to someone. I need a person in front of me who can answer questions for me. I don't want to deal with online," said Mike Legutko, Ormond Beach resident.

Volusia County said the whole building will soon follow.

"That's the only thing closed right now. Jim Dinneen (county manager) is trying to find a place for them to go," said Wagner.

While county employees are shifting around, the issue on where to put the homeless remains.

"The county told the city, think of a short term solution, that's why they started working with Salvation Army. They're working on that. The second one was sign an agreement that says you'll guarantee Safe Harbor," said Wagner.

Salvation Army spent the day giving out food and supplies and will be able to house 46 more people for the time being, but the county said its waiting for the city to make the next move.

"As far as the county standpoint, I don't know how much more we can do. We've done everything. We've gone over and beyond anything that we originally said we'd do, so we're stalemate," said Wagner.

The county said Daytona Beach has until March 3 to agree on Safe Harbor that would be located next to the Volusia County Jail. The county said it would spend $4 million dollars on the property and building that will have 250 beds, but it's up to the city to foot the bill for the operational costs.