The Homeless problem in Pinellas County continues to grow.
If you would like to look at the Pinellas
County Health and Community Services web site and look at the most recent
surveys and reports.numbers you can go the
The City of St. Petersburg has been at the forefront of the
homeless crisis and City Council Member Amy Foster is taking a lead role in
developing approaches and solutions for the homeless community.
My Conversation with Amy Foster concludes with this Post.
My questions are in
BOLD
"Obviously have
a new Police Chief who is facing a number of issues." "If you were
putting these issues in a list where would you put the homeless issue," I
asked?
"I think the homelessness issue has to be dealt with
because, a) it's the right thing to do and b) because we are a tourist
City." "People need to feel safe when they visit and people need to
feel safe in order for us to do economic development." "While it
isn't THE most pressing concern it has to be something on Chief Holloway’s
radar on a regular basis."
"Is there a long
term solution to this homelessness problem?"
"It's the one issue I think most citizens would kind of
have a hard time feeling comfortable with." "But when you research all of the data,
and do the literature review, permanent supportive housing is the answer to
chronic homelessness in particular."
"I did a quick check, again the numbers change from
time to time, but 2012 Pundit Fact Check even did a fact check on this and
found it was mostly true: it costs about $40,000 of tax payer's money for every
year, for every person who is homeless on the street." "We are
talking about costs for police officers, jails, health care costs such as
needing to go to the emergency room, riding in ambulances, behavioral health
issues and shelter to name a few."
"But when you provide supportive housing, it costs
between $13,000 and $25,000 per year per person."
"The problem that you find is people say: "We want
to help people who want to help themselves." "But the reality is
study after study that has been done shows that substance abuse goes down,
people
with mental health issues stay on their medications when supportive
housing is available."
"If you think about Maslow's hierarchy of needs,
shelter is a fundamental human issue." "And so once they have shelter
they are able to actually see a path out of homelessness."
"Supportive shelter is also able to provide wrap around homeless
services."
'We had a couple of things happen in Tallahassee last year
about wrap around support and Challenge
grants for cities and that has certainly helped. The goal this year is to
continue that funding and to start a conversation about the need for additional
mental health funding." "But in the end we are going to have to have
some conversations about affordable housing and permanent supportive housing if
we really want to eradicate homelessness."
You only have to watch Amy Foster for few minutes as you
discuss homelessness to realize she is totally dedicated to the issue.
If you would like to be part of the solution to the homeless
problem here in our County and in St. Petersburg, you can find Amy Fosters''
contact information at: http://www.stpete.org/council/dist8.asp
E-mail Doc at: dr.webb@verizon.net. Or
send me a Facebook (Gene Webb) Friend request. Twitter@DOCONTHEBAY. Please
comment below, and be sure to share on Facebook and Twitter. See Doc's Photo
Gallery at Bay Post Photos
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