In the Parkbrooke Apartments, people who have been homeless can take a transitional step toward independence.
By CHRIS TISCH
Published June 23, 2004
CLEARWATER - Hoping to give the area's homeless a better chance of getting back on their feet, city officials celebrated the grand opening of a transitional housing complex just east of downtown Tuesday morning.
The Parkbrooke Apartments Transitional Housing Project is adjacent to the Clearwater Homeless Intervention Project, or CHIP, facility on Park Street. The complex has eight units that can house a total of 10 people.
The housing project is the latest step in the CHIP program, though part of the program's five-year plan is to open four more similar facilities in that area.
"Clearwater indeed cares," Mayor Brian Aungst told several dozen people gathered for a ribbon-cutting Tuesday morning. "There are few cities in the country . . . where the disenfranchised are so embraced."
That hasn't always gone over so well with some local residents, who have complained that the homeless facility has increased blight and crime in the neighborhood while shrinking property values.
And city officials have asked other Pinellas governments to offer more financial help with CHIP, which helps the homeless from all over the county.
But with a blend of mostly city and state money, CHIP bought property adjacent to its facility for about $100,000, then spent another $550,000 or so on construction of the complex, said Ed Brant, CHIP's executive director.
One of the people accepted into the apartments is a 41-year-old man named Gregory, who didn't want to give his last name because of the stigma associated with living in transitional housing.
When a divorce and job troubles left him on the brink of homelessness several months ago, Gregory came to CHIP. He has a good job with a manufacturing company and is attending St. Petersburg College, but still needs some help getting back on his feet.
He's also tiring of living with almost 50 other people. He's looking forward to cooking his own dinner and watching the television shows he likes.
He'll pay $400 per month to live in his apartment. Half of the rent will be used to pay utilities and other expenses. The rest will be put in an escrow account that he will receive when he leaves the apartment. Occupants are expected to stay at least six months, but can remain for up to two years.
"This is going to help toward my end goal," Gregory said.
To get accepted into the facility, CHIP residents must work 60 days in the same job, be in the shelter at least 90 days and meet other goals in their program, said Brant, who expects a waiting list will form for the spots.
He said the program will help the homeless jump over hurdles they often face in going from a shelter to a place of their own.
"Sometimes making that adjustment is hard," he said.
That includes money. Brant said the going rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Pinellas County is about $600. Even the local motels charge up to $500 per month, he said.
Brant said people who live there still will have to be involved in programs at the facility, as well as mentor others. They also face random drug tests and cannot have visitors stay later than 9 p.m.
"This is the next step for those . . . who still need some time and supportive services," said Clearwater Police Chief Sid Klein, president of the CHIP board of directors.
Brant said of the people who have been approved to live in the complex, two are in college, one is studying to be a mortician, one has been offered a teaching job and two work in local restaurants.
