A VERY SPECIAL DINNER
On February 20 the Alachua County Coalition for the Homeless and Hungry
hosted a dinner gathering at St. Francis House for the homeless community, to
meet with them and listen to their concerns. This was the first time for such
an event and there were a few glitches, since more people attended than were
expected. Nevertheless, it was a very successful and positive event.
Everywhere we went last night on our driveout people were talking about this
dinner and saying how much they enjoyed the experience. Historically, as a
community, we haven’t done nearly enough to include the homeless community in
the conversation. This effort in that direction was deeply appreciated by our
homeless friends.
Theresa Lowe, Coalition Director, opened the meeting by thanking the
homeless community for helping with the annual Point-in-Time Survey and
reporting on the initial findings. The PIT Survey is sponsored by HUD and is a
count of the homeless population over a 48-hour period. It also includes
questions on why people are homeless, and what their needs are. It is a
snapshot taken of a moving target over a brief period of time, so there are
always people who aren’t counted. Statisticians work with the figures in their
own mysterious (to me) way of extrapolating a more exact count. Theresa
reported the following figures (not extrapolated figures but the actual number
counted):
(1) 985 unsheltered homeless people
(2) more than 1000 homeless people in shelter
(3) 400 homeless children, as reported by the Alachua County School
District (all of whom have families who may not have been counted)
(4) 300 chronically homeless people, defined as people who have been
homeless for more than one year
Theresa referred to these numbers, particularly the 985 unsheltered
homeless people, as “staggering,” especially when compared on, a per capita
basis, with other cities. Denver, Colorado, for example, counted 1000
unsheltered homeless people in their PIT Survey.
Then Commisssioner Randy Wells reported on the city’s efforts to acquire
the old prison complex on 39th Avenue for a new homeless shelter and one-stop
center. He was able to report that negotiations with the State are going well.
He then asked for feedback from the community about what they would like to see
this project include. We were not able to stay for the entire comment period,
but while we were there the homeless people cited three major concerns they
would like to see addressed:
(1) JOB TRAINING AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES (suggestions were met with
enthusiastic applause)
(2) MORE AND BETTER ACCESS TO SHOWER AND LAUNDRY SERVICES
(3) A GREATER EFFORT TO TREAT HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY AND
RESPECT, AND FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE TO TREAT EACH OTHER WITH DIGNITY
AND RESPECT
Amen, amen, amen!
Commissioner Wells has a strong vision of this new center as a place where
the entire community will come together to build something that is useful and
beautiful, with not only shelter, health care, and job training, but also many
other community projects such as organic gardens, murals painted by local
artists, activities for children and more. He wants as many citizens as
possible, housed and homeless, to participate in the process, now and after this
facility opens. If you would like to be notified of meetings concerning the new
one-stop center and/or if you have input about what you would like to see
included at this center you can email Commissioner Wells at wellsrm@cityofgainesville.org
MANY THANKS
My SOS for more groceries was met by a cornucopia of good food! Many
thanks to all of you. I now have enough food and better food. I have also
received a good many tents and tarps from both groups and individuals, and the
same with vitamins and batteries. We are a bit low on personal hygiene
products, so keep us in mind for that. We never have enough razors, and
shaving is a significant part of getting a job, so razors will be especially
appreciated.
love and peace to everyone!
arupa
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Home Van needs tents,
tarps, bottled water, bug spray,Vienna sausages, creamy peanut butter, jelly,
candles, white tube socks, batteries, and games. Call 352-372-4825 to arrange for drop off.
Financial donations to the Home Van should be in the form of checks made out to
Citizens for Social Justice, Inc., earmarked for the Home Van, and mailed to 307
SE 6th Street, Gainesville, FL 32601, or can be made online at
http://homevan.blogspot.com/
THE HOMEVAN IS A PROJECT OF CITIZENS FOR SOCIAL
JUSTICE, INC. (FDACSREGISTRATION #CH35643). A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION
AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES
BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE.REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY
ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE
STATE.
