Catholic Charities withdrew their plans for a multi-family development for 240 apartments (they never intended to do that anyway), so now they don't have to comply with traffic studies and other impact statements to put up tents! Even though the tents and shacks are substandard housing (unfit for human habitation according to code), some of our duly elected County Commissioners think it's okay to put the chronically homeless in them!! They are really trying to shove this down our throats and we need to continue to FIGHT!
Their latest proposal is: click here to view it. It is interesting to note that their analysis of the surrounding area fails to mention any of the neighborhoods, retail, and schools in our community. What about the fact that the Hard Rock Casino, an international tourist attraction, is less than half a mile away!?! Apparently we have become expendable. Let’s show them that we matter and that we will fight their efforts to destroy the quality of life in our community! View the site plan
It should be noted that we have met with Catholic Charities and reqested that they improve their screening process and be more selective about their residents - they admit that more than 50% have addictions and/or mental illness . We also suggested that they not accept those who have no intention of becoming productive members of society (they fail terribly with these people). They refused. Rather, they intend to continue their "open door" policy, as they have done at Pinellas Tent City. Because of this, six months after discharge, only 5% still have jobs or housing!!! Is this where we want to spend our scarce tax dollars in Hillsborough County?!!?
Welcome Visitors coming from Sacred Heart's website. Please read this article on how the Church turned the homeless away from their door step. Yet they find it OK to put them on the doorstep of several neighborhoods, numerous schools, and many offices and retail.
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HEARING MASTER RECOMMENDS "NO" TO The Hearing Master, the Planning Commission staff, and the Planning & Growth Management Dept staff have all recommended that the rezoning request be denied as inconsistent and incompatible, so the BOCC has decided to jam a square peg into a round hole. Now they want to create a whole new zoning classification called "Homeless Encampment." This has never been done in any other city or county in this country, and for obvious reasons. If approved, more than 250 homeless addicts and mentally ill people will filter into our community. WE MUST ATTEND AND SPEAK UP AT THE HEARING ON AUGUST 25, 2009 before the
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Download the above file to see all the details |
Do you want to know what we will suffer if this comes to our community?? Read these 2 recent articles about the problems caused by the Salvation Army Shelter's homeless residents to a nearby neighborhood. Some of the problems include public urination, hostility and intimidation, trash, and profanity. The second article highlights the promises that the Salvation Army has made to fix the issues and their new tough love policy to NOT help those chronically homeless who want nothing more than a handout. Make no mistake - their is NO tough love at Pinellas Tent City! Article 1 Article 2
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FACTS
What Pinellas tent city is like and what will be in your back yard if you don't help to stop this…
- No children or families are allowed. This facility houses single, adult men and women, along with some couples "claiming" to be married.
- More than 50% are drug addicts, alcoholics and those with mental illness. They take those that are not allowed in other programs because of their current drug and alcohol abuse.
- Only 26% of those "successfully discharged" leave having employment. That means that less than 14% of those admitted to the facility leave with employment. This doesn't sound like a very successful program that rehabilitates homeless as they claim. They also claim they will screen out those who don't want to work. It does not sound like this is working either. The chronically homeless are only effectively weeded out months after their admission to the facility.
- Some of the tenants “are just like animals” according to one of the volunteers. They urinate wherever they want on the premises and do not clean up after themselves.
- Some of their tenants are not homeless from Hillsborough County, but are “SNOW BIRDS" THAT MIGRATE HERE for the winter and return north in the summer.
- They tolerate frequent rule violations and often do not expel the residents. "It's about forgiveness." Sheila Lopez, COO Catholic Charities.
- Thus far, over $1.6 million tax dollars has been used to support this facility, which attracts homeless from other states to use county services that are paid for by taxpayors like us.
DO YOU WANT THIS IN YOUR COMMUNITY??
