Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Relocation is a group effort

The city comes together to secure housing for displaced apartments residents.

By JON WILSON
Published May 10, 2006

In a project that took more than a village to accomplish, 120 people have new lodging of their own or have moved in with friends or family members.

The city's relocation effort ended about 5 p.m. Monday, although police remain to guard any belongings residents might have left behind at Chinook, 2400 15th Ave. S.

Eighteen families comprising 52 people had been staying at the Dwight H. Jones Neighborhood Center on Burlington Avenue N, said Goliath Davis, deputy mayor for Midtown.

All have been relocated or have been given motel lodging until permanent housing is ready, Davis said.

Several pets, including dogs, cats and rabbits, are being kept at the SPCA until they are returned to their owners, Davis said.

Davis said it is too early to tell what the weeklong job will cost the city. He said he has asked each department involved to prepare an expense statement.

"It's going to be a pretty big chunk," he said.

The effort became a wide-reaching community project, with churches, businesses, government, social services agencies and individuals pitching in.

The Pinellas Opportunity Council and Pinellas County Human Services provided vouchers to help pay rent or deposits, and the St. Petersburg Housing Authority distributed vouchers for Section 8 housing, a program that pays part of a family's rent on a sliding scale based on income.

Officials closed the Chinook May 2 after a series of inspections showed continuing fire and building code violations and no progress toward fixing the problems.

Resolving the human crisis became a virtual 24/7 exercise for city officials, Davis said. He cited a number of people by name for their efforts.

Among them were Tom de Yampert, manager of the city's housing and community development; Paul Stellrecht, who works in the housing department; Joyce Grogan, manager of Jamestown, which is city-owned lodging near the Jones center; and Trish Johnson, Grogan's assistant.

"They've been my core," Davis said. "I mean around the clock. These individuals have given up all their spare time."

County Commission chairman Ken Welch, who is from St. Petersburg, pledged county assistance. City Council member Jeff Danner helped transport people.

The Pinellas County Housing Authority helped screen residents who were receiving vouchers, and the Department of Children and Families helped with food stamps.

Catholic Charities provided gift cards and helped in other ways throughout the process, Davis said.

The Salvation Army provided food, and the Red Cross contributed cots for people staying in the Jones center. St. Vincent de Paul donated food and supplies, and Harry Lee Williams, who owns Harry's Crab and Fish House on 18th Avenue S, contributed his cafe's specialty items.

"That's Mr. Harry Lee Williams," Davis said, emphasizing the honorific.

St. Anthony's Hospital and Bayfront Medical Center provided towels. Volunteers from Mustard Seed and Turning Point rehabilitation centers offered personal hygiene products and made sure the cots had sheets and blankets. Acting as an individual, Peggy Simpson, who lives in St. Petersburg, also brought sheets and blankets. Two people who wanted to remain anonymous gave Wal-Mart gift cards.

Christ the Cornerstone Church in Pinellas Park bought pizzas. CASA donated diapers and baby formula. Bethel AME Church provided breakfast for those staying at the Jones center.

Boley Center's Angela Wallace and Valerie Sanders took on family case management, as did Suncoast Mental Health employees. The Pinellas County school district provided buses to move people around, and the U.S. Postal Service delivered mail that previously went to Chinook to the Jones center.

The St. Petersburg Housing Authority's Ray DiRusso expedited inspections for family's new housing, Davis said.

Michael Amadei and a crew of volunteers who help with cold-night shelter for homeless people managed the Jones kitchen.

On the corporate side, Progress Energy expedited new utility hook-ups, Davis said.

Cash contributions came from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, First Dartmouth Development, the Sembler Co., Echelon Development, Opus, Osprey Management, the Downtown Partnership, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast.

Several landlords and Realtors helped find accommodations, Davis said.

James Park owner David Starr expedited rehabilitation of units there so families could get settled. Meanwhile, the staff and residents of Jamestown helped with maintenance and cooking chores.

[Last modified May 10, 2006, 07:31:16]