HOMELESS TASK FORCE FINAL REPORT
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Homeless
Task Force
Final
Report
April 21, 1994
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary 1
Introduction 2
Charge 2
Methodology 3
Findings 4
Defining the Need 4
Guidelines for Admission and Staffing 6
Finances 9
Referral likelihood 10
Community Attitude 12
Conclusions and Recommendations 13
Exhibit A 14
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In August of 1993 a task force was established by the Clearwater City
Commission to determine the feasibility of instituting and maintaining a "drop-in
center" for the homeless in Clearwater. This task force included representatives
from Clearwater, Dunedin, Largo and Pinellas County. Also serving were members of
various social service agencies.
The concept of the drop-in center was defined as a facility to provide urqentlv
needed social services to a limited number of destitute (homeless) persons who might
othen,:ise sustain bodily harm to themselves or be a threat to the peace and
tranquility of their surroundings. The ultimate goal would be to provide a
coordinated approach to meeting the immediate needs of the truly homeless in the
area in a professional and humane manner. Overnight shelter, minimum food
service and health care would be provided for the needy as funds were available. In
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time, this could become a "one-stop center" where additional services such as job
counseling, substance abuse referral and an outreach program would be made
available.
..:\fter several meetings, the task force decided that a temporary winter shelter
would help meet an immediate need and serve as an experiment to determine the
scope of services needed, to accumulate needed data and to test the referral aspect.
Such a winter shelter was operated at the STEPPS building for two months with
limited paid staff (funded by the three cities and the County) and volunteers.
Analysis of the data collected, interviews with some of the homeless persons
served, and general discussion by members of the task force resulted in the findings
reported below.
The task force has concluded that the drop-in center concept is indeed feasible
and very much needed to serve the homeless in and around Clearwater. The Pinellas
County Homeless Coalition has agreed to be a Co-Applicant for funding with the
Salvation Army and the Clear.vater Police Department as partners in operating a
permanent facility and administering the kind of program described below.
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INTRODUCTION
In August, 1993 the Clearwater City Commission authorized the creation of a
task force to study the feasibility of setting up a "drop-in" center for the homeless in
Clearwater, as originally proposed by CleaDvater's Chief of Police. Recognizing that
such a center would for all practical purposes have to serve the homeless in most of
Northern Pinellas County, members of the task force have included the following:
Art Deegan, Clearwater Commissioner, Chairman
Michael Wright, former Clearwater City Manager
Sid Klein, Clearwater Police Chief
Bob Bekker, Ueutenant, Clearwater Police
Doug Wilson, Clearwater Police Officer
Alan Ferri, Manager, CleaD\'ater Community Development
Barbara Green, Director, Everybody's Tabernacle
Carlton Ward, Greater CleaDvater Chamber of Commerce
Ben McKay, for Representative John Morroni
Herb Frietag, Minister, Chapel by the Sea
Thomas Feaster, Largo Mayor
Richard Kistner, Largo Police Chief
Jim Johns, Captain, Largo Police Department
Nancy Randolph, Victims Advocate, Largo Police Department
Richard Goss, Largo Community Development
Richard White, Dunedin Police Chief
Mary Lou Guthan, St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen
Dr. Stephanie Adair-Toteff, HRS
Darlene Kalada, County Community Development
Sherryl Reed, County Community Development
James Dates, County Social Services
Cliff Smith, County Social Services
Vance Arnett, County Criminal Justice
Pamela Wiener, Homeless Coalition Cold Night Shelter
Terry Hammond, Salvation Army Planning and Development
David Kincaid, Homess Outreach Support Team
Nina Clark, Secretary, Clearwater Police Chief's Office
This group has met at least once monthly since being formed, in addition to
sub-committee meetings.
An Interim Report was submitted to the Clearwater Commission on December 7,
1993 and on February 9, 1994. Verbal updates were also given at Commission
meetings when asked for.
What follows is a Final Report of the task force in fulfillment of its charge.
CHARGE
The task force was asked to determine the feasibility of a properly staffed
"drop-in" center for the homeless, mainly as an aid to law enforcement officers as
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they carry out their duties of protecting ,the peace and tranquility of the community
and the personal safety of both residents and transients.
The center envisioned was to be more than an overnight shelter. It was not to
duplicate services already available in the community. It was to provide case
management to those "dropped off" so as to deal with the underlying causes of their
particular homeless situation. This might mean referral to an appropriate agency to
provide services ranging from drug abuse counseHng or mental rehabilitation to job
training or education assistance. It might also mean taking care of immediate
physical needs such as first aid, dental care, personal grooming and hygiene or
clothing.
The primary targeted population was identified as those homeless who could
not be accomodated in community shelters and who might othenvise find themselves
in the custody of law enforcement officers. The latter had been experiencing
difficulty in meeting the immediate safety needs of such homeless and were spending
an inordinate amount of tiIIie away from more pressing responsibilities in providing
what amounted to taxi service.
METHODOLOGY
In order to determine feasibility, the task force addressed the following issues:
(1) Determining the need, (2) Guidelines for admission and staffIng, (3) Finances, to
include costs (both capital and operational), as well as possible sources of funding,
( 4) Site selection, and (5) Referral likelihood.
Among the activities undertaken in researching these issues were:
· the Clearwater Ubrary did a search of the literature on the subject of the
homeless, with special emphasis on public opinion and the question of
opposition from neighborhoods
· the County Homeless Coalition provided information on community services
now ,available or planned for the future
· the Clearwater Police video unit operating out of the Chiefs Office provided
tapes of possible sites and interviews with selected homeless served in the
temporary shelter
· the County Criminal Justice Department and Clearwater Police Training
Section collaborated to produce a Training Bulletin outlining criteria to be
used in admission of the targeted population
· a two month temporary "Winter". shelter was operated at the STEPPS building
from January 10 to March 10
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· two day-long "Homeless Help Fairs" were conducted during the course of the
temporary shelter 1:0 provide information on referral likelihood and to further-
defIne the need for a drop-in center .
· financial contributions were made by the Clearwater Police Department
(S5,000), the Largo Police Department (S3,000), the Dunedin Police Department
(S2,000), Pinellas County (S2,000), Florida Power Corporation (S250), and an
anonymous donor (SI,200) for the purpose of underwriting operational -costs
.of.the temporary shelter_._..._n_______.. _____ ___._..
(. :~~~ C~:~;~a~~;~ ;: ~C;;;:~t~~':~~~st~= ~~~~~;~al s~:~':fiC:~i~~r~1e~
~. .,__.fop in center_---
~-ki~d-~~-~;ributions ...;;~-~- ~~d~.-b~ --;o~;;~~- (40) org~zatio~s,- both non-
pr.ofit and commercial, directly and through the St. Vincent de Paul Soup
Kitchen which provided meals for the temporary shelter
· operational insights were obtained from a visit to the homeless campus in
Orlando and the previous experiences of one task force member in
establishing a similar program in Lexin&ton, Kentucky
· information on possible funding was provided by task force members and
others with experience seeking and administering grants
· detailed information was gathered on two dozen different possible sites, to
include condition of property and/or buildings located thereon, ownership,
present and past utilization, asking price (if any)
· volunteers at Everybody's Tablernacle designed a computer program to
capture and array data collected from those served in the temporary shelter
· opinions were sought from law enforcement officers in the County and
municipalities surrounding Clearwater as to the need and the most desired
location
FINDINGS
Defining the Need
Estimates of the number of homeless in Pinellas County on anyone day/night
dUring the winter months range as high as 1500 persons, including men, women and
children. If anything, upper Pinellas seems to have a larger percentage than lower
Pinellas, taking Ulmerton Road as the diViding line.
Three major causes have been identified as contributing to the recent
dramatic increase in the number of homeless: (1) the cutback in federal funding
available to house the mentally ill and the physically incapacitated, thereby swelling
the ranks of those who must fend for themselves in the open; (2) the large number
of Vietnam veterans and others who have become addicted to alcohol or other
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substance abuse and whose families hav~ given up on them; (3) the recent several
year long economic recession and its attendant layoffs which have added to the
number of those temporarily out of means of self support due to the need to acquire
new job skills or funher education.
With specific regard to veterans, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jesse Brown has
testified in Congress that the inability to help more escape the streets is an
"American Tragedy". He reported that the number of vets on the streets has not
decreased in recent years despite spending millions and millions of dollars every
year. He estimates that 40 percent of homeless veterans suffer from serious men tal
illness, and that half suffer from alcohol or drug abuse, as quoted by the Associated
Press.
Clearwater has its share of all the above. In addition, the climate and friendly
attitude of the residents have attracted many individuals from other jurisdictions in
the hope of finding a better life here.
The largest shelter in Clearwater is at Ev~rybodyrs Tabernacle on North Betty
Lane. There the emergency shelter houses 120 persons and transitional housing
about 100. In addition there are sofas in the hallway to provide some help for police
calls during the night, as well as some single family homes scattered throughout the
neighborhood and some motels used for families, elderly men and women. An
important lesson learned at this facility is that forCing the homeless to leave the
shelter in the morning simply makes them become the problem of the business
community which must deal with them during the day.
Another emergency hOUSing shelter is administered by Religious Community
Services, supported by dozens of churches and congregations in Upper Pinellas.
They permit residents to stay as long as 30 days and are required to be looking for a
job in order to stay. They are almost always full, and do not take single men, who
make up the largest proportion of today's homeless.
A ~d agency in our community is Quest Inn, which does serve single,
homeless men, but limited to ages 18 to 30.
In addition to those harbored in permanent shelters operated by various non-
profit agencies, many can be found on any given night seeking refuge under trees
on the Causeway, under bridges 'and piers on the beach, in the bushes between
private residences, in doorways of commercial buildings and on public benches
wherever they are located.
During the two months operation at the STEPPS building, this 30-bed shelter
was IDled to over capacity 82% of the time, and was never below 67% full. On nights
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when the facility was full anywhere from 2 to 8 additional persons had to be turned
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away. On really cold nights when additional shelters were open (ane full), there was
still not enough room to accomodate all who sought shelter.
It is, therefore, a Clearwater problem, and will remain a Clearwater problem.
STEPPS Buildin~ Temoorarv Winter Shelter
During the S9 days of operation, a total of 1893 persons were served, including
S6 police referrals. The youngest was one month old; the oldest was 77 years old; the
average age ws 30. Residency in Pinellas County was from 1 day to 77 years. A
manual search of a random ten nights data reveald that ann the average, four out of
ten clients came for more than one night; and six to eight out of ten were employed
in some kind of day labor. These figures give a much different picture of
Clearwater's homeless than the stereotype mentioned in public comments.
Two of the "clients" served were interviewed on video and given an
opportunity to express not only their thanks, but also their view as to the
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effectiveness of the drop-in center concept and the need for it in tbis community.
(Those tapes are available through the Office of Chief Klein.) Many others indicated
they did not know what they would do upon the closing of the Winter Shelter. They
expressed their feelings in their own individual way. One wrote a poem about the
volunteers who were such a big help. Another wrote a note to the Task Force
chairman on a paper napkin expressing pride in the cleanliness of the city. Another
penned a letter to the task force chairman, signed by 91 "clients", asking for
continuation of the program. (See Exhibit A)
Guidelines for Admission and StafImg
Five categories of individuals have been identified as legitimately in need of
the services of a Drop-in Center, each with its own needed level of staffing:
1. The Wandetin~ Homeless
This group is not composed of the chronic homeless, but of those who are
distressed, are new in town, and don't know where to go or what to do and have no
money. Most need referral to services and have no resources for shelter and no
information for referral. These individuals do not display overt substance abuse or
criminal tendencies. They are just temporarily down on their luck or unfamiliar
with the services available. During any night or week-end there may be six to ten
such cases, but could go as high as 15 to 20. The staff demand would be for monitored
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emergency shelter, case management, ~nd in most cases transportation to other
services.
2. Non-Emerzencv Shelterl New ArrIval Referral
This group is composed of individuals who are new to the area, have the means
for shelter but are seeking some specialized service such as substance abuse
counseling or detox and are likely to end up homeless soon. Often these people are
just off a bus or have hitch-hiked into town. They may have a motel room but no
means of transportation. They soon decompensate and end up in the homeless ranks.
Their staff need is for case case management, linkage to other services and
transportation. They may number one or two per night. They may need meals, but
they are more in need of information and assistance (often in the middle of the
night) than they are of shelter service.
3. Passive Inebriates in Need of Safe EmerlZencV Shelter
This group is composed of the chronic street alcoholic who at the time of law
enforcement contact does not meet the criteria for involuntary commitment under
the Myers Act, but is in need of safe shelter. They are the most evident of the street
people: they are found sleeping in bushes, hallways, etc., or just wandering around
drunk. They need a place to sleep it off. They are truly homeless with an alcohol
problem. Their staffing need is for some experience in medical and substance abuse
assessment, and someone to watch them with enough training that if they go into
some type of reaction, they can reconize it and call 911 for assistance. This would be
the largest group, perhaps 20 to 25 per night) Their housing need is for emergency
shelter. They likewise have a strong case management need.
4. Children in Need of Service I Families in Need of Service
These are people out there under emergency conditions needing a place to stay
as a family unit and then some referral to service the next day. There are services
available in our community for this group. However, the demand and timing of
availability of service is often too cumbersome for law enforcement to handle. There
are one or two such families each night, and as high as six or seven adolescent
children on a weekend. Under this heading are also the elderly (rapidly growing in
number) and the handicapped. The Drop-in Center could provide immediate
emergency shelter, case management, and referral and transportation to those
services that do specialize in such cases. Demand for this group would be facilities
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for single adolescent shildren for one night stays, and some capacity for families to
stay together on an emergency basis. The most significant aspect for staff
consideration is case mansagement and transportation.
5. The Chronic Homeless
This group is composed of those individuals who prefer to live on the street
even thouh they may have the resources to establish domicile. Their main need is
normally for emergency shelter, and strong case management and follow-up. This
group likewise needs an outreach program that goes into the street and works with
them to help change their attitudes and re-establish them in non-homeless
productive settings. There are an estimated 100 such persons in Upper Pinellas. The
staff need would be mainly case management and service referral. A strong
component would be an outreach program with case workers working out on the
streets.
Additional Staffinq Considerations
As can be seen, the case management need for all the above categories is
vitally important to the success of the program. Others have found that without case
management at some point, there is a continuing revolving door and instead 0 f
solving the problem, the problem becomes greater.! This does not mean setting up a
State certified receiving facility, a detox and assessment center. The intent is not to
get to that level of investment or requirement for special licensing as an assessment
center.
Case managers would have to be on duty during the day: individuals with at
least an assessment practitioner with substance abuse issues, people that are willing
to deal with the haphazard inebriate, someone that knows the HRS service delivery
network. At night time, some of the best case management can be done because
clients are not available during the day. But most night time personnel would be
emergency, service folks and someone with a litle medical expertise. Selection of
qualified staff and their attitude would be a key item in reducing an.'<iety on the part
of neighbors to the center.
l"...America stubbornly refuses to see the trUth about the problem...It's a matter of a
mostly disturbed population with severe problems that needs help getting off the
streets and into treatment. ... Giving money, food and housing (but no therapy) to
street addicts makes us 'enablers' - a term of the recovery movement that mounts to
'accomplices of addicts'." John Leo "Distorting the homeless debate", U.S. News &
World Reoort. Nov. 8, 1993, p. 27
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Finances
For the drop-in center to be feasible, it would be necessary to obtain capital
funding to buy/lease a facility and outfit it as well as operational funds to maintain
the program on an ongoing basis.
1. Catlital Fundin2:
The following are seen to be minimum requirements to meet the need:
. a facility large enough to sleep up to 50 individuals, with the ability to
separate women and children from single men
. the facility should provide shelter, food, showers and an option to allow
individuals to remain in the facility during the day
. office space and equipment to permit case management and administra-
tion of the facility and the program
. transportation to transfer individuals from the shelter to other appropriate
facilities in the county
Officials from Dunedin and Largo, being concerned about the longer term
approach to the homeless problem, pointed to the current emphasis on the homeless
issue on the part of Secretary Cisneros of HUD and join Cleanvater task force
members in believing that this is a propitious time to be soliciting grants from both
the State and the federal government.
Discussion with the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless led to a resolve
to imitate the "Washington Initiative" in which several jurisdictions grouped
together to request funding for a combined project addressing the need in a region
larger than a single city. The Coalition believes it would be successful in applying
for a federal grant to build and/or operate two facilities: one in North County and
one in South County. A group in South County comparable to this task force is
working on an inebriate reception center called "Restart". The Coalition has voted to
support the, Clearwater drop-in center as the North County effort.
County and City .staff involved in grants through the U. S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development or through the U. S. Department of Health and
Human Services see such grants to be a possibility.2 For example, the new National
and Con:ununity Service Act offers funding to address homeless needs, among others,
2 Secretary Cisneros of HUD has stated "the intent is to participate as a part of a true
continuum of care to bring the homeless into a system, assess their needs and provide
them with a full range of services needed to regain independent living as much
as possible" "Community Connections", HlJD Office of Community Planning and
Development newsletter, undated, page 1
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and emphasizes doing so through coaliti~:>ns at the local level. Then there is funding
through the Innovative Homeless Initiatives Demonstration Program (HUD). Staff
also believe that Community Development Block Grant monies and emergency Federal
homeless money that has been set aside might be available to acquire a site and for
bricks & mortar needs.
2. O'OeratinlZ Funds
During the two month temporary shelter operated by the task force, the
community proved very generous in providing in-kind contributions to assist in
reducing operational expenses. Meals and foodstuff were provided by the St. Vincent
de Paul Soup Kitchen; mattresses were prOvided by Cleanvater Mattress Company;
laundry service was provided by Morton Plant Health System; some forty individuals
and organizations demonstrated the feaSibility of community support.
The Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless appealed to its volunteer
network and provided sufficient volunteers to "Fover" all shifts for two months as an
additional way to hold the line on costs. Appeals through the Upper Pinellas
Ministerial Association were also helpful in obtaining such help. Use of such
volunteer help on an ongoing basis would probably be necessary for a permanent
drop-in center.
A similar facility (in Lexington, KY) was able to obtain $75,000 from the United
Way over a three-year period for its day (case management) operation.
Dade County has adopted a Food and Beverage Tax to be used for long term
shelters. Through the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless, meetings are to be
arranged to meet with legislators to see if they will enact the food and beverage tax
here; however, that will take some time to bring to fruition.
The Governor's Commission on Affordable Housing is looking into the issue of
homelessness and trying to determine what State resources are needed to address the
problem. Ben McKay from Representative John Moroni's office, is also looking into
legislative iititiatives to provide long term operational funding.
The Largo Police representative on the task force is preparing his next year's
budget request in a manner that includes a line item to help support the Clearwater
drop-in center, indicating continuing support from at least one neighboring
jurisdiction for a regional approach to the problem.
Referral likelihood
Because of familiarity by the task force members with the Veterans' Stand
Down held at the Bayfrom Center in St. Petersburg, the task force decided to conduct
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a "mini stand down" once a month in January and February while the temporary
shelter was open. It was decided to call the day a "Homeless Help Fair". The idea was
to invite representatives from various social seIilice agencies and other interested
individuals or organizations as a test to see what type of referrals would be
encountered in providing case management to the homeless and whether the latter
would participate in such an event. Services provided included job counseling,
mental healt/substance abuse counseling, legal advice, HIV counseling, medical and
dental treatment, haircuts, clothing, eye exams, and varius other supportive services.
Actual Help provided each day was as follows:
Hel!) Given 1/22/94 2/19/94
Haircuts 33 18
Dental care 21 S2,100 worth
Mental Helath 15 (8 new) 4
Legal Aid 13 (9 new) 4
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Employment 17 13
Mobile Medical 11 14
Clothes 600-700 pieces 250-300 pieces
Later Mr. Ed Brant, Case Manager of the Homeless Intervention Program for
the Salvation Army, advised that a lot of people from both the Fairs have all had
direction. Three or four people stated that they had received employment.
Other anecdotal information:
· a family with five children came to the Fair in February who had literally
been on the street. Clothes were provided for the children; they were sent to
the mobile medical van and the husband was able to start work on the
following Monday morning.
· a 77 year old resident of Upper Pinellas stayed several nights at Stepps and was
the s\lbject of a feature story in the paper. She had been forced to leave her
$300,000 home because of a dispute with the State over the taking of her
property for the new Bayside Bridge. She has since been invited to live with
another elderly woman who wanted companionship and found our "client" to
be just what she wanted.
Outreach Proczram
At some point in time it would be desirable to have case workers to go out into
the streets. Such an outreach program has been proven effective in moving people
into transitional housing, often an important milestone on getting back to self-
sufficiency.
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Workfare. not welfare
There are labor pool programs which take those individuals who can work and
help offset the cost of the operation of a center by puting them to work in the facility
building things, doing maintenance, etc. or performing day labor at a place of
business. Part of the intent of the program is get today's homeless to feel good about
themselves. "Carrying one's own weight" goes a long way in restoring self-pride.
Community Attitude
A library search of all articles and stories about the homeless in 0 u r
community for a thirteen month period from 1992 to 1993 found much less "negative
press" about the homeless than was the case in other parts of tJ.'1e country as reported
in the literature on the subject) Nonetheless it is fair to say there is a significant
amount of NIMBY (Not In My Back Yard) to be overcome. At the same time, there is
also strong recognition in these articles that the homeless population can indeed be
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categorized as stated above. An adequate triage of those coming to the drop-in center
could result in providing the help and referral sought by some and basic human
needs for others without endangering neighbors.
During the two month STEPPS experiment, there were several complaints from
neighbors regarding the conduct of the clients. These revolved around (1) their
tendency to line up early in the afternoon anticipating the doors being opened at
6pm and not wanting to be too late, and (2) their congregating around the bushes to
the rear of the property during the daytime hours when the building was not open.
The task force feels a permanent drop-in center would be staffed 24 hours a day and
thus provide the kind of supervision that was not available at the STEPPS experiment.
During the course of this feasibility study, a couple of tentative sites for a
permanent srop-in center were identified in the media. There were immediate
reactions from citizens and neighborhood groups opposing these locations as
endangering. the safety and security of nearby homes or businesses. While there was
also some recognition that a controlled environment providing not only supervision
but also remedial services could actually provide more protection than danger, the
predominant attitude was one of requesting any site to be in the section of th e
community where related facilities (shelters) were already located. Further efforts
3 The search included articles, editorials and letters to the Editor having anything to
say about "homeless", "vagrant", "transient", "street people", "bum", "indigent")
"panhandler" and variants of those terms.
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to fix on a particular site will necessi,tate involvement of focus groups in the
immediate vicinity to e>"l'lain the program and allay as many fears as. possible.
CONCLUSIONS and RECOlYfMENDATIONS
It is the consensus of the members of the Task Force that a drop-in center for
the homeless of Upper Pinellas County is needed and is feasible.
From our experience with the Winter Shelter, we feel that a SO bed facility
would be appropriate. It should accommodate single men, single women, couples and
families with children. It should operate 24 hours a day and during the daytime have
a case management and drop-in center component with services available. An
evening meal and a light breakfast would be served.
Paid staff would consist of the following: Program Coordinator, Case Manager,
Night Shelter Manager, Night Shelter Assistant, Relief Shelter Assistant, Relief
Shelter Assistant II, Weekend Shelter Assistant and Weekend Shelter Assistant II.
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Paid staff would be supplemented by volunteers, especially on weekends.
The facility should be a cooperative effort between Pinellas County
government and the North Pinellas County municipalities of Clearwater, Largo,
Dunedin and Tarpon Springs. These jurisdictions can provide in-kind resources
and/ or a local match for funding. On site space would be provided for Pinellas
County Coalition for the Homeless agencies so that supportive services such as
medical, legal, mental health, employment counseling, etc. can be provided.
The Coalition has agreed to be a co-applicant for grant requests. The Salvation
Army and the Clearwater Police Department will form a partnership to administer
the program (and be the other co-applicants). CDBG and other federal funds will be
sought. The city's Manager of Community Development stands ready to assist the co-
applicants in preparing grant requests.
Site location will be identified as "in the vicinity of current similar operations
on North Betty Lane". Clearwater's Police Chief found the STEPPS experiment to
more than meet expected law enforcement objectives. He would like to move the
mobile classroom now at the McMullen Booth sub station to a site on Betty Lane.
Everybody's Tabernacle has agreed to provide oversight for a temporary drop-in
operation in that facility until a permanent program can be established. Clearwater
CDBG funds set aside for administration of the task force's homeless project will be
used to move the mobile classroom, outfit it, and begin operations on Betty Lane. This
will afford both the Police Department and the Salvation Army an opportunity to
develop the permanent program.
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EXHffiIT A
Homeless Coalition
c/o Commissioner Art Deegan
Stepps Shelter
1180 Cleveland St.
Clean'later, FL 34615
Feb. 24, 1994
To Whom It May Concern:
It has been brought to our attention that the Stepps Shelter will be closing
soon. It has been a harbor in a storm to many homeless people - singles, male and
female couples and the elderly and disabled and has been very much appreciated.
Many are in this position due to the high unemployment rate in our country and
ma..~e a change to warmer climate to avoid going broke in the cold and fInd a lack of
jobs here. Many are very deserving professionals, white and blue collar, who have
had marital and business problems. Although, admittedly, a few have drinking
problems, they certainly won't get better on the street as their problem will lead to
panhandling and stealing and fill our jails even lulieI'. They also get some
counseling and job placement advice from their stay at Stepps.
There is also a need for companionship of those in similar situations, and it's
amazinghow much comfort this can give.
Please keep Stepps or another homeless shelter available in the name of love
of man.
Very sincerely,
John C. Stewart
P.S. I found myself in a serious situation due to an operation on my elbow and not
having a car or being able to drive on. I was in the process of buying a car and
finding another apartment and was caught in an expensive trap and my pension
check not due for 2 weeks and had to use this facility. It was the fIrst time in my life
that I was faced with such a situation. Thusly I speak to you first hand. J.e.s.
The following are residents or former residents of Stepps:
92 signatures ...
Homeless Task Force
14
I
DI'CT~S
For Mental Health, Inc.
I
May 26, 1994
Terry Hammond
Salvation Army
P.O. Box 8070
Clearwater,FL 34618-8070
Dear Mr. Hammond,
We are pleased to support the Salvation Army in the development
of an emergency shelter and are interested in being involved as
a supportive services component. This type of shelter is
greatly needed in Upper-Pinellas County. It is not uncommon
for individuals who are seeking social service assistance to be
unable to get off the streets due to limited shelter
(transitional housing) or because they are intoxicated and
detox beds are unavailable.
Directions for Mental Health, Inc. Homeless Outreach Services
program is an outreach program in mid and upper portions of
pinellas County. The HOS program provides assessments and
mental health services to individuals who are homeless or who
are at risk of becoming homeless with Axis I diagnosis, or
those that are dually diagnosed with a co-occuring substance
abuse problem. In a recent survey by the pinellas County
Coalition for the Homeless in the winter 1993 Homeless Survey,
of 319 homeless people surveyed, 10.3% had a severe/persistent
mental illness, 13.2% had an acute mental illness and 23.7% had
a dual diagnosis of substance abuse and mental illness. A
combined total of 47.3% were assessed to be in need of
mental health services. Many of the individuals the shelter
will assist are appropriate for our services as well.
The Salvation Army Emergency Shelter will provide an important
initial step for homeless people. We applaud your efforts in
the development of this facility and look forward to working
together to decrease homelessness and the fragmentation of
services.
Supervisor
KS:vg
G1e~~ /0 ~ f!/)~Ofce ((r .:ZJ/u:llm (~}(I/l10
Administrative Office
1437 South Belcher Rd.. Suite 200/Clearwater. FL 34624/1813) 536-5950
Sponsored in part by
State of Florida. Department of HRS, luvenile Welfare Board
Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Pinellas County Government. and the United Way
I I
Pinellas County Coalition For The Homele33
27 May 1994
TO: Whom It May Concern
RE: Homeless Assistance Programs -
The Salvation Army of Upper Pinellas County
Dear Sir or Madam:
The Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless is an
organization of more than 30 agencies in Pinellas County
addressing the problems and the needs of the homeless
population in this area.
The pinellas County Coalition is the largest and most active
such organization in the state of Florida and has been
instrumental for nearly ten years in effectively addressing
and serving the needs of the many homeless in the
St.PetersburgjClearwater area.
The Sal vat ion Army of Upper Pinellas County has been an
active and concerned member of the Coalition for a number of
years and the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless
gives it strong and complete support in its on-going efforts
to serve the homeless in the Upper Pinellas County area.
The proposed plans for both a temporary and a permanent
facility to house and case manage the homeless population
represents a very crucial and present need in the northern
part of pinellas County.
The Coalition commends The Salvation Army for its vision and
its effort in this regard and, again, is in complete support
and offers its assistance in any way possible to bring these
plans to effective reality.
If I can answer any questions or be of any additional
assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to contact
me.
rJ:2t
Donald Ma~
PRESIDENT
Post Office Box 5242
Largo, FL 34649
~
1
I
st. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen Conference, Inc.
1345 Park Street, Clearwater, Florida 34616
Phone: (813) 441.3790
May 26, 1994
To Whom It May Concern:
The St. Vincent de Paul Soup Kitchen fully supports the
Salvation Army in their application for funding for both
staff for operation and pre-devolpment monies for a permanent
shelter.
As a member of the Task Force seeking a permanent location
for a shelter and working daily with the homeless we are
well aware of the great need in this area.
The Salvation Army has a good track record and expertise
in the administration of a shelter.
~y LO~~.
'lsident
"FOl' I was hungry and you gave Me food. I was thirsty and you gave Me drink.
I was a stranger and you weIcomlId Me, naked and you clothed Me. I was ill
and you comforted Me. in prison and you came to visit Me." Matthew 25:35-36
MRY-26-'94 THU 12:01 ID:CITY MRNRGER'S OFC. TEL NO:813 462 6720
1;536 P02
I
I
C I T Y
OF
CLEARWATER
POST OFFICE 80X 04'''.
e; L I: A 11 W A I I: H. ... I. 0 HI U A a 4 15 , 6 . 4 7 4 8
CIIy OOol'lmilalon
May 2n, 1994
To Whom It May Concern:
A special Task force appointed by U1C Clearwaler City Commission recc::nLly spc:11L 8 lllunLhs
studying the ,need for a "orop.in center" for the homeless in upper l'inellas t;ounty. Part 01
this feasibility study included the operation of an overnight shelter for two months, which
~rvtd a.~ a baven for individual! and famme.~ found hy the Pnlite nf nur City or ne;ehhorin&
communities to be in immediate need of food and shelter. It also included two "Homeless
Help I'ait" da)'3 to provide a~s to various social service aacncics which might hclp thc
non-"bard core" street people overco~e their immediate needs and get back on their feet.
The final report of that Task Forte endorsed the immediate establishment of an interim
shelter to help the Police kep off the streets individuals who miaht be at risk either to
themselves or to others and for whom then was no other place to turn.
it also strongly urged the acquisition of a permanent "drop-in center" which would be not
only an O\'emW1t shelter but a referral center to address some of the underlying causes of a
hnmele.\., cond;lion; !;uch al mental i11ne~~, ~llh~h1f1(".e ahn~t lack of education, need for skills
trainiDg or employment counseliDg.
As Chairman ot that Task Poree, I earnestly request your support in providing funds for the
Salvation Army for the operation of the interim center and/or the preliminary stePs to fmding
and acquirina a permanent "d~in center" .
Youn vcry ~ly,
c&d-JJL.~
Arthur X. TJeeean. 1T
Commissioner
City of Clearwater
AXDJcb
o
"Equal Employment ana Alllrn'18tive ACtiOn I!mployer"
MAY-25-1994 14:49 FROM CLW. POLICE CHIEF'S OFC. TO
9-725-9749 P.02
I
I
CITY OF CLEARWATER
DEP""TMCNT OF POLIO Ii au PIFACS STREET
CLEARWATER, FLORIDA UeU.54U (813) 482.6330
o...-lOe OF THE OHlEr'
May 25, 1994
To Whom It May Ccmcem:
This letter b \0 COAvcy my wholeheartecl support anc1 recommendation to The
Salvation Anny's pursuit of block pant monies to provide emeraency shelter
care to the Chloftic homeless of Cearwater. Ia that lhe pob dcpartmcllt ia
mOlt oftea c:aDed upon to wsolve' the problem of tile homeless peno.a. on die
Stred, baWl& suda a Ie80UfCe and altlnative to incarcerad.oa tadily ~1e
wiD be a more humane, IRON COlt e<<ective ud more tMN~ salution.
1be Clazwater PoUgc Deputlncnt is veer iIlvo1vcd ill the Homdc=Ia Task
Porc:e and ita eft'orts to develop a ClOIltiJluum of senica 10 tbe dItoaic
homel_. To that ad, we have p1edaecI tile CODtributioD of a double wide
mobile home to be placed on tbe pmperty Il'idouslY otI<<ed by Bvetybody's
Tabemacle. We &vm DOW to Tbe SalvatIon Army'. Homdess IAterYeDticm
PqAm co opaUo tho &ellity. To IUpport this,. we furtIaer pIecIp pIacemem
of Amaicorps' perdciputs u support IeCuDty staff durina hours of opeIItion.
We view this u a critical first step . development of a penDIIlIIlt, 24-huur
facWty and COJUiDuum of .mea UDder .. roof.
,
We tbeD would NqUMt the review c:o-mi~ for C_D.B.G. to Jive aU due
considemtioa of The Salvation Army's two ~: (1) to provide S1aft for a
~ tempOrary sIle1ter opem1loA; (2) pnHIcv~t fuoda to Iocaie and
sec1n a petlDIDeQt dlq)-iIl center.
YOQf.1dDd cauideration ia this maUer wilt be tratl1 ~ by thole
.wIIom _ ~
Sinoerel"
~~~',
SJJ) KLEIN
CJaief of Police
SUIJh
o
.........1 I=lI'Iftltlov"'.nl _nit Affirmative Action Emoloy.,"
TOTAL 1"'.02
MAY~25-94 WED 16:32
P.12l2
I I
~(J.HuteM e-~ AA/?4 '7"e,
1120 N. Betty Lane
Clearwater, Florida 3461 5
(813) 442-0041
May 35, 1993
Terry Hammond
The Salvation Army
1625 North Belcher Road
Clea rwater. Florida 3462S
Dear Mr. Hammond
Everybody's Tabernacle and Homeless Emergency Project lends its support and
pledge of cooperatioD to the efforts of the salvation Army to both operate all
overnight shelter for the chronic bomclcu aDd thc devclop of permanent, 24 hour 'ull
service Drop-in Center. The fundi.. of these projects will briol to bear the COlllbined
talents and resources of a wide variety of service providen and community interests.
in btinginl about permanent aDd realistic solutions to hom.....n...
We in the human services community Imow that there is more than enough need to go
around. We are not 'earful of duplicltJon of need, a. the Salvation A.rmy'. Homelass
Intervention Program targets those who, for tbe most part. have beea missed or
for2ottea.
The beauty of their proposals II that it brlllgs toaetber maay aaencles to address a
wide variety of bumaD needs. AI we aU know, tIlere are no simple, quiCk faes for tbe
cbronic bomeless. No slap aaeocY e8a do it alone.
We ask tblt III due coDSldendOD be given to daelr separate but related proposals so
immediate critical needs caa be met, while developi.. a permanent cORtinuum of
services.. Your attention In this is ....tly appreciated.
Sincerely, ~...~
~ _ J
Wa.v,...-
Barbara Green
Administrator
.
MAY-20-1994 10:12
i1PO ARCH I TEeTS
I
I
May 20, 1994
PROPOS!D SALVAT10N ARMY SHELTHR
FEES FOR ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES FOR AN APPROXIMATE
6,000 SQUARE FOOT 1ACILITY
1.
Multiple Site r.valuations for c.ompliancE:! with
Clear~ater land development code:
$ 2,000.00
$ 4,900.00
2.
3.
5i tA Plan approval & civil engineering:
Schematic Design:
$ 4,200.00
I, .
Design Development:
$ 4,700.00
s.
Contract Documents:
$14,000.00
6.
Bidding:
$ 900.00
7.
Construction Administration:
$ 6,000.00
TOT AI. :
$36,700.00
Jay F. .yers
Myers, lisk tt Architects P.A.
800 Dr Street
Clearwater, Florida 34615
CorporatE:! License No. AA C000813
P.01
, of P.... ..
bJ'1&1$
TOTAL P.01