Why is there homelessness in Manatee County?

Homelessness is a condition that affects not only Manatee County but the entire United States. Major social policy changes in the 80′s reduced the amount of funding for housing programs to almost half, and now the lack of affordable housing is a major problem. The two major reasons we have today that are responsible for homelessness are poverty and a chronic shortage of suitable, affordable housing. Other reasons are:

Divorce
Teen Pregnancy
Domestic Violence

Unemployment, Underemployment, and a lack of job skills
Alcoholism, drug abuse, and mental illness
Family disintegration, including divorce, desertion and runaway youth
Lack of affordable health care and/or child day care
Jail or prison release
Migration and immigration of persons to Florida without means of self-support

How many people are receiving services in your programs?

The Coalition has three major programs that provide a variety of services to individuals and families that are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless.  The Open Door, a day resource center which began operations in 2003 and served 668 new clients that year, provided services to 1,502 new clients.  In 2006 there were 733 new clients served, so the number of people seeking help more than doubled in just three years!  The Transitional Development Program, which provides rental assistance and financial management training,  counseled  369 households in 2009.  This represented 468 adults with 507 children.  Our newest service, the One Stop Clinic opened dental services in August of 2009.  In the first six months of operation, this volunteer led clinic provided $390,186 worth of dental services to 248 clients.  The medical clinic, which is utilizing volunteers from the Lake Erie College of Medicine, opened on November 17, 2009, and to the 15^th of February, 2010 had provided services to  111 clients.  In addition, people in need are able to utilize services we provide by collaborating with community partners.  These include providing legal services, employment services, veteran’s services, homeless outreach to teens, young adults, and adults, and services to families that are homeless.

What do you believe would be most effective in making inroads into the homeless situation in our County?

Research shows that providing as many services as possible for those in crisis in one place increases client compliance in seeking and receiving aid. We have purchased the former Mather furniture building and plan to turn it into a one stop resource center, where the low income and homeless can get the assistance they so desperately seek in adequate facilities. Giving them a place to go during the day will alleviate many of the problems businesses and residents have with the homeless trespassing and littering on their property. We believe partnering with business, public and private funders, faith based organizations, and all stakeholders is key to addressing the homeless issue in our community.