Southpinellas: City to the camp: Get out

ST. PETERSBURG - They've only been there a week, but already the homeless men and women encamped on the 1400 block of Fourth Ave N have been ordered to move.

City officials have given the St. Vincent de Paul Society, on whose property the homeless have pitched their tents, one week to evict the 140 inhabitants of the mushrooming tent city christened "Coming Up."

The homeless have lived at the camp since last week, when they moved their tents off public land across the street from the St. Vincent de Paul Society's soup kitchen and around the corner to the vacant lot.

At the time, the move was praised by homeless advocates as a temporary solution while the city looked for a building to use as an additional emergency shelter.

But living in tents, even on private property, is prohibited by city code. Now, the St. Vincent de Paul Society has until Jan. 12 to remove the tents. Society president Sophie Sampson could not be reached Thursday.

The code citation has angered several City Council members, including Chairman Bill Foster, who said the decision to break up the encampment was made without consulting council members. Foster, who spent an hour at the camp Thursday, said many of the residents are "just a few weeks away" from having the money to pay for an apartment. He said to kick them out now makes little sense.

Council member Jamie Bennett also criticized the move, saying police records show the number of homeless loitering in the downtown area fell by 100 in the week since the tent city was established.

Mayor Rick Baker, who some homeless advocates suspect was behind the move to close down the camp, did not return phone calls Thursday.

Times staff writer Aaron Sharockman contributed to this report. Alisa Ulferts can be reached at 892-2379 or ulferts@sptimes.com.

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by Lee	01/12/07 03:01 AM
These people have had their entire lives to get a job or rehab. Instead of spending their time with those activities they stand on the corner begging. I'm know they've been offered assistance before tent city. St. Pete shouldn't tolerate lazy people.

by Ann	01/08/07 11:54 AM
Rick Baker states that he is a Christian by making tent city to move where is the Question.

by Carol	01/06/07 10:50 AM
Tent City was a big win for both the homeless and the city. Within the first 3, 4 people obtained employment and at least 12 entered rehab programs. Local businesses were happy. Local police were happy. The Mayor, on the other hand, was clueless.

by Dorothy Byrne	01/06/07 10:25 AM
Tent City is so preferable to what is happening in the streets. It is deplorable that the homeless have no where to go and there is no public outrage. Most of us have been homeless and without family support, would be on the street. Please care.

by oneill	01/06/07 08:12 AM
About 66% of the homeless are veterans. In Pinellas County, as many as 1,600 persons may seek shelter NIGHTLY. 24% of the County's homeless are children under 18, 44% of homeless adults have jobs.

by Marie	01/06/07 02:38 AM
People who blame others for not getting the 'help' that is supposedly available have obviously never tried to get some of that 'help'

by Missy	01/05/07 10:01 PM
The Housing Authority in St Pete is closing low income housing and mobile home parks are being sold to developers. Where do you think poor people are going to end up? Many folks are a paycheck or two from being homeless. Have some compassion!

by Mike	01/05/07 09:30 PM
Kay,why unemployed?There are positions available everywhere.Car worth 5K? Trade it for one worth 1K.Need medical help,food,a bed,etc?Try the Salvation Army located on 4th St.S.Help IS there.Please do not mislead.Those who WANT help CAN,and DO get it!

by Howard	01/05/07 04:57 PM
Since when does enforceing a City Code require contacting Politicians first ?

by Pete	01/05/07 03:35 PM
"most vulnerable residents"is certainly a joke.The folks who in dire need seek help from appropriate agencies.The rest perfer homelessness...strive for it actually.Many travel to these warmer climes in the winter.Do your research.John is right.

by Kay	01/05/07 03:17 PM
John,what help?I've pulled through, thanks to being resourceful.11/05, 9 months pregnant, home being foreclosed, unemployed and alone.Turned down for welfare and food stamps because car worth 5k.Severely depressed and also turned away for mental help

by mike	01/05/07 02:38 PM
Wow John, these people choose to sleep on the sidewalk, and get harased by police? Regardless they are human beings All they are trying to do is get shelter, in a tent! John they offer you an oppertunity to give and be greatfull for what you have.

by TOM	01/05/07 01:37 PM
If they have doggy parks why not vagrant parks. "Homeless " is too much of a common denominator term.

by John	01/05/07 01:23 PM
The homeless aren't "residents" they are "transients" who offer nothing to the community. If one is homeless locally for more than a year one is homeless by choice or as a result of addiction (i.e. one's own bad choices). There is help available.

by Thelma	01/05/07 01:15 PM
The city wants to shut this down becuase a coalition of homeless people will be more powerful than those same people dispersed, alone and constantly harassed. That spells danger to Rick Baker's dream of all those $2m condos in McStPete.

by Kay	01/05/07 12:42 PM
Does the city have a couple of blocks it could donate to the cause? I also would prefer to see tents than to have a homeless city within our public parks. The alternative is to keep arresting them for trespassing and then providing their care in jail

by shane	01/05/07 12:13 PM
Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to..... oops nevermind, there is no room at the inn.

by oneill	01/05/07 12:10 PM
A city with a 540 million dollar budget, ($540,000,000) including 76 million for police, and an $800,000 subsidy for Tropicana field (a private entertainment complex) ought to be able to take care of its most vulnerable residents.

by Pete	01/05/07 10:42 AM
I do not like to see the homeless roaming our streets, often pushing shopping carts piles high.Ironically the tent city does not bother me...it gives them a sense of "place" and keeps them off the streets and out of the parks.Now they need restrooms.

by Mary	01/05/07 09:59 AM
It seems that St. Pete is trying to make the homeless disappear from view. It would seem that a tent city is better than living in a downtown park. If there is no shelter space then the city should work with the homeless advocates to open some.

by Frank	01/05/07 09:36 AM
A tent city is not the answer. We need to pay to send these people home.

by Mike	01/05/07 08:16 AM
OK so the City council passes such a code banning homeless from camping even on private property and when the poor joe whose job it is to adhere to the code does his/her job the council is angered?!? I'm confused.