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Ex-PSTA site could aid homeless

By LORRI HELFAND
Published February 8, 2007

A vacant public building in mid Pinellas may one day play a major role in dealing with the county's growing homeless problem.

Largo Mayor Pat Gerard and City Manager Steve Stanton are talking with the county and homeless advocates about transforming the former Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority headquarters on 49th Street into a model service center for the homeless.

"It is time we step up to the plate. It's our turn," said Gerard, who is a member of the Homeless Leadership Network, a group charged with forming a 10-year countywide plan to end homelessness.

"It's the right thing for a community to do," said Largo City Commissioner Andy Guyette, also a member of the leadership network.

Talks are preliminary, and a few other sites are being explored, but Cliff Smith, assistant director of the county's Human Services Department, said the former PSTA administration building is the most promising so far.

One key reason is that it's owned by the city of Largo, Smith said. Another is that it's in a good central location.

Stanton said its proximity to the Pinellas County Jail and a wastewater treatment plant made the 16,200-square-foot structure almost impossible to lease.

But that combination is a plus for the homeless service center because it limits the possibility of neighborhood resistance, which can thwart such efforts.

The city bought the 5-acre site in December 2005 with a plan to expand its nearby wastewater treatment plant down the road. The county bought an adjacent 8-acre lot.

City officials say the homeless service center could operate on the site for a few years because Largo has no immediate plans to expand the sewage treatment plant.

Smith and Sarah Snyder, executive director of the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless, said the site could serve as a model for three permanent centers planned in the future.

The long-term plan to combat homelessness includes creating three service centers: one in North Pinellas, one in the middle and one in the south.

If this site is feasible, the center would be an intake and service center for the homeless in various areas of the county.

If created, the center likely would be run by a nonprofit agency, officials said. Details haven't been worked out, but Snyder and Smith said it might provide about 150 beds and allow for stays of up to 90 days.

The center would offer mental health, substance abuse and job counseling, and referrals to more stable longer-term housing.

Officials aren't sure what it would cost to renovate the building, which has office space and meeting areas.

Smith said a business plan for the center is being formulated. But other funding specifics are still being ironed out. Money would likely come from a variety of sources, including federal and local governments and private donors.

Gerard said the publicity surrounding St. Petersburg's tent cities has brought more attention and resources to an existing problem.

"There are a couple of private individuals who have come forward with large amounts of money to help with the homeless effort because it's been so visible lately," she said.

City leaders support the concept and say they welcome a positive partnership with the county.

"This would be a great opportunity for the cities and the county to come together and work on issues of and for humankind," said Largo City Commissioner Rodney Woods.

Fast Facts:

Potential spot for service center for area homeless

Location: 5 acres south of Roosevelt Boulevard on the west side of 49th Street.

Current use: Vacant building that formerly was the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority headquarters.

Size: 16,200 square feet.

Possible future use: Intake and service center for the homeless, with up to 150 beds. Services could include mental health, substance abuse and job counseling, and referrals to longer-term housing.

[Last modified February 7, 2007, 23:01:43]