PINELLAS COUNTY - A Pinellas County commissioner predicted that at least three homeless shelters eventually will be available for street people as government agencies, religious groups, businesses and others get involved in the growing homelessness crisis.
Commissioner Ronnie E. Duncan during an unveiling Feb. 14 of a computer-based employment search project in St. Petersburg said the shelters would be located in the southern, central and northern sections of Pinellas County.
Duncan, a strong supporter of Pinellas Hope, a tent city for street people on 126th Avenue near 49th Street and member of the board of directors of the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless, said many people face homelessness due to job loss, financial problems, medical reasons and other circumstances beyond their control.
One man at Pinellas Hope worked for a landscaping company and suffered a severe spider bite. He lost his job and subsequently his home and personal belongs.
Duncan said people, businesses and other groups are now working together to resolve homelessness. At Pinellas Hope volunteers provide meals and other assistance.
Duncan said a count of street people last month in Pinellas County showed a slight increase over last year’s approximately 5,000. The survey was conducted by about 200 people who visited 250 sites such as campsites, parks and day labor businesses.
So great is the need for help for not only the homeless but other residents as well that the county allotted $65 million for social services in its current fiscal budget. That money for rental assistance, food, help with utility bills and other needs is just about depleted.
Duncan said the $450 allotted for rent subsidization at one point was upped to $600 and then recently was lowered to $400 to conserve funds. He said the county may lose millions of dollars due to cuts mandated by tax reform.
The county will take a long, hard look at Pinellas Hope once it closes its gates on April 30 to determine its successes and failures. Created by Catholic Charities, it is jointly funded by the county, other government bodies and others.
“We need to look at Pinellas Hope and go from there,” Duncan said.
Duncan said other locations for Pinellas County shelters are required because the homeless tend to move around.
“We need to have help at locations where the homeless are living,” Duncan said. “A person in need who lives in St. Petersburg is not going to travel to Clearwater for assistance.” Duncan said no firm commitment has been made to open new shelters. He said also that officials are looking at merging the many not-for-profit soup kitchens and rescue missions. Consolidation would save office, personnel and other expenses if they were all combined.
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