Activities and Opinions

Mike Davis, head of Home Again St Johns (the mayor’s commission on ending homelessness) welcomed everyone.

A discussion and review of the sample street card/brochure handout ensued, with minor changes made. Mary noted the public servings were not listed and location may be subject to change in coming weeks. Committee may be able to include, depending on time needed for the city to respond with an alternate site. Mike suggested also posting location, dates and times on appropriate sites like PUSH, Feed the People and FNB St Augustine. Jackie Rude, ESHC, suggested a separate page listing in local phone books. Heather Andrews, VA, said an insert in the Record would be helpful. Mike Davis also wants the finalized street card/brochure in .pdf format for all agency websites.

Other members noted there were several labor pools still operating and not listed. David Hoak requested this information be emailed to him. The Record will design and print for free.

Heather Andrews gave a short presentation on the Veterans Stand Down scheduled for 8/28/10 from 9AM to 2PM at the Elks Lodge on the island. The Veterans Council and other vet organizations are sponsoring and they hope for 100. They will have transportation from VA clinic, Labor Ready (Lewis Speedway and SR 16) and St Francis House. They will have supplies like sleeping bags, hygiene kits, sunscreen, bug spray and application/screening services. There is a flyer and a volunteer sheet which I will scan and provide to anyone interested. I also have several copies to hand out and supposedly local law enforcement will as well. This is a big deal, supported at many levels. I hope PUSH members will find time to come out and support this effort.

New St Francis House complex: Mike reported the HASJ commission is still waiting for a budget from St Francis House and that SFH Board member Jon Benoit is working on this. Ali, from SFH, reported that the application for zoning is being resubmitted to the county for the firehouse property on South Dixie Highway. Asst County Administrator Jerry Cameron noted the planning and zoning hearing for this project is tentatively scheduled for September. Advocates for this move to this location need to plan on turning out in support at this hearing. More information will be sent out when the day/time is set. If it fails, there could be an appeal hearing in November resulting in a final decision. The last option at that point would be a lawsuit. St Francis House also needs to present an actual model of what this facility would look like and comprise. The county needs to see actual plans.

Point in Time survey: David Hoak noted this is a HUD requirement, performed every two years, to ascertain a 24 count of homeless people in the region (in this case, our county). Mike Davis asked Jackie Rude (ESHC and the agency who conducts this count) to provide the plan to the next providers’ meeting in August. Mary (PUSH) suggested longer and better training and setting training meetings at night so working people could volunteer and attend to be trained. The count is scheduled for Jan 25, 2011.

County wide services stand down: Mike Davis spoke of having a “services agencies expo” and numerous site suggestions were offered. Mary (PUSH) suggested early January as possible date as holidays will have passed, volunteers could be solicited for the point in time survey and any homeless attending could be informed of the importance of the upcoming count at the end of January. Committee seemed to agree.

Community/Candidates’ Educational Forum on Housing and Homelessness: Not presented at this meeting, flyers were available and I’m including here because PUSH had tried to sponsor such an event in 08 with only one candidate agreeing to appear. Details:

October 12, 2010
5:30 PM
St Paul AME Church
85 MLK Ave

Sponsored by: ESHC, St Francis House
and Missions Committee, St Paul AME Church

Barbara Dodson, ESHC, is point of contact: 824.6623

These are not official minutes. These are notes to inform PUSH members of activities of the homeless service providers’ component of the overall HASJ commission.

Members representing a coalition of groups dedicated to feeding hungry people in our community met with John Regan to discuss alternative serving sites to the gazebo at the Plaza de Constitucion.

Terry (Food Not Bombs), Becca and Sabrina (Feed the People), Laura (restaurant/business coalition organizer), Spike and JT (houseless), Al and Olivia Deinhart (Just Faith St Anastasia), Regine (Resurrection Episcopal Protestant Church), Mary (PUSH), Janet (individual associated with Anchor Faith) were in attendance.

Terry explained the purpose of the request for the meeting, intending to resolve city issues with use of the plaza for serving before it becomes an expensive litigated issue. John Regan gave his background leading to his familiarity with homelessness: personal and professional, including his position on the board of St Francis House.

The group was in agreement that members of the homeless community are not treated with respect and dignity at St Francis House.

Numbers of servings have increased over the last three years. It was noted most week nights see 40-60 people and Wednesdays and Sundays are especially busy, with some Sundays seeing over 150 hungry people. It was noted there is never any trouble, the group, assisted by the homeless, always clean up, tourists often stop by and are impressed at the activity, sometimes offering money to offset costs.

Al raised the idea of tables and chairs for people to sit and eat. John noted he would look into potential issues with that idea.

Discussion of panhandling ensued. Not really relevant to what this group does.

Mary encouraged Mr Regan to change the narrative with the business committee tasked by the mayor almost 2 years ago to find a solution for homelessness. The positive aspects of feeding hungry people unconditionally reflect well on the community and businesses need to see and appreciate this.

Two sites were suggested by Mr Regan for the group’s consideration:
The north side of the parking garage and behind the Lightner. Members of the group were tasked with surveying both sites and emailing their choice to Mary marylawrence@bellsouth.net. She will then contact John by Friday July 30 with the group’s consensus. He will then research possibilities with his staff and report back to the group as soon as possible.