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With homelessness, it is better to act from the heart, 1/12

They are not forgotten Jan. 10   

I was a bit perplexed by St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker's article. Was he trying to justify his recent actions by listing the agencies that receive city financial aid? The listing does little to justify his attempting to dismantle the "homes" of the homeless.

It is quite obvious that those organizations that receive financial assistance are unable to meet the needs of the homeless population. It's interesting to note that Mayor Baker didn't state that the majority of these shelters are full.

With a lack of resources in the community, the mayor, a Christian man, decides that the solution is to once again force another hardship upon people who are already run down. At a certain point the "right" thing to do isn't always what the law says.

What this city needs is more people who act not from the law but from their hearts. This maxim seems lost on Mayor Baker, who advises against giving money to those you see on the streets or feeding the homeless in the park.

It may not look "pretty" to have the homeless moving here. However, what a wonderful witness it would be if those who are without a home could find a place of rest here in this community of people who are so generous and kind.

Matthew Stewart, St. Petersburg

They are not forgotten Jan. 10, op-ed by Mayor Rick Baker

Give them shelter

Mayor Rick Baker's op-ed piece concerning the homeless was disappointing, but predictable, for a man whose policy of gentrification has effectively excluded not only the homeless, but also much of the working poor from the downtown area.

I am a former resident of St. Petersburg and lived downtown for many years. Like many working residents of modest income, I found myself rather abruptly "priced out" of my home in that community. I had a front row seat for the mayor's continued pandering to affluent commercial interests, such as condo developers, which had the effect of relocating many working people to other areas of town, or like me, out of town altogether.

Given my own experience, I find myself unimpressed with the mayor's protestations of compassion for a homeless problem that he clearly doesn't genuinely care about. Moreover, as a former advocate for the homeless, I can attest that most of the charitable agencies he cites have criteria that largely preclude a majority of the homeless from actually being able to take meaningful advantage of the help provided.

Indeed, the primary solution to the problem is summed up in one word: shelter. More specifically, long-term shelter that will then provide homeless individuals the ability to satisfy all the other requirements to become independent members of the community. There has always been a shortage of available beds for the homeless population of St. Petersburg, but the current city policy has had the effect of exacerbating this shortage.

Whatever its limitations, the "illegal tent city" that the mayor opposes offers such an opportunity to those members of the homeless community for whom other forms of shelter have become unavailable.

John Feeney, Orlando

Options are limited

It is well and good that St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker lists housing agencies in his Jan. 10 article. My experience with helping my 28-year-old nephew find housing as he began his recovery process from substance abuse last summer proved to me that there is not enough housing for the homeless in this city. Most of the agencies on Baker's list are for families or women and children rather than for young men seeking to get back into the mainstream.

The Salvation Army and the Mustard Seed had no extra beds, and we finally found housing for him at a faith-based organization that charged $100 a week, required him to work for no pay at Tropicana Field and to attend daily church services. It did not give him much time to work to pay the rent. This was all that was available until he finally got into a halfway house through the court.

In a downtown where the privileged now have many new housing options, can we not build a place for the poor?

Patrice Callaghan, St. Petersburg

They are not forgotten Jan. 10, op-ed by Mayor Rick Baker

Action needed

Mayor Rick Baker's article focuses on the fact that millions of dollars are being spent on the homeless in St. Petersburg. In fact, he states that there are so many agencies and facilities ready to help the homeless that he does not support the concept of "drop-in shelters" that provide no structured programs geared toward independence and continue for an indefinite period of time (i.e., a tent city where people can have a place to call home).

Although millions of dollars may be spent on helping the homeless become independent, coupled with many agencies doing a wonderful job of supplementing this, it is not nearly enough. It's time to move from debate and denial to action. It's time to provide shower and laundry facilities so the homeless can get and keep jobs.

The mayor also remarks that those who feed the homeless at Williams Park do it for self-gratification. This, I assure you, is not the case. The volunteers with St. Pete Food Not Bombs have been feeding dinner to the homeless on Friday nights for the last few years because there is a need. If there wasn't, why do 100-plus people graciously show up for what is for the most part their only meal of the day?

As Baker gets paid to come up with ineffective plans for the homeless, many of us volunteer our time and money to actually provide food, clothing and friendship to homeless people. Stop the denial and start with the action.

Chris Ernesto, St. Petersburg

Let homeless be heard

Now is the time to act on issues regarding the homeless in our city. We cannot systematically ignore their needs and rights any longer. I understand these are not simple issues to solve, but they are issues that the city of St. Petersburg can address in a humane and just way. The city needs to directly address the requests of the homeless community and their advocates, as soon as possible, and should not allow the tent city to be dismantled without a viable alternative in place.

Recent Times coverage of this issue has left me thoroughly disappointed. For this newspaper to relegate the letter written by the residents of tent city to the Neighborhood Times while placing the mayor's opinion piece in the fully circulated edition is completely unacceptable.

I believe the homeless, not just those with all the power, deserve to have their voices heard by all who read your newspaper.

Greg Miller, St. Petersburg

They are not forgotten Jan. 10, op-ed by Mayor Rick Baker

Don't chill charity

I am sure the numerous small church groups and grass-roots homeless advocates - many of whom have been making a difference in the lives of their fellow citizens for years - will find Mayor Rick Baker's comments regarding their generous donations of time and money quite interesting.

His position appears to be, "Don't bother getting involved in your community personally. Your efforts are trivial and fruitless. But don't forget to pay your taxes!"

While the mayor may marginalize the Good Samaritan who tosses "a tent out your window," that tent may provide shelter to the one individual who needs it the most on a cold night. And considering the rising number of homeless persons in St. Petersburg, it will be put to good use by one of the many people that the mayor's millions have failed to reach.

I certainly hope that the mayor is not attempting to discourage the citizens of St. Petersburg from being their brother's keeper. It would seem that this most fundamental value is already a scarce commodity. The mayor should avoid using phrases that suggest that those who give from the kindness of their hearts are actually suffering from some sort of narcissism. It sends a very wrong-headed message indeed.

Carol Schiffler, St. Petersburg

First, find a solution

Just a note to support the tent city effort. Why should my already high taxes pay for continued harassment of the homeless when they have been offered a temporary "home"? I pay taxes on three properties in St. Petersburg and I am outraged that the city is not supporting the great effort to actually help the homeless.

I say let the tent city stay - at least long enough for a "study" and long enough to come up with a viable solution.

Let us be generous with our resources. Please help those in need, now.

Carol Ann Dennison, St. Petersburg

Try self-help

Wow, nice list of help for the homeless. Is there a list of what the homeless are doing to help themselves? I am amazed that some people are questioning Rick Baker's Christian faith and moral character. Perhaps these good Christian people could go to each tent and offer to share their homes.

Nadine Foley, St. Petersburg

Visual improvement

The tent city is certainly much more attractive than the mess at Williams Park and on the downtown benches.

B.J. Mitchell, St. Petersburg

[Last modified January 11, 2007, 23:13:30]