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Tax woes make center for homeless uncertain

Advocates say there's funding to build but not to operate a new facility in Largo.

By LORRI HELFAND, Times Staff Writer
Published August 18, 2007

A plan to create a model service center for up to 150 homeless people won't come to fruition in the near future.

Six months ago, officials unveiled a plan to open the countywide facility at the former headquarters of the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority in Largo as early as late May. But county officials and homeless advocates say a shelter at the site is not in the cards this year, or maybe at all.

"In light of the state's property tax mandates, there really is no funding for that type of facility," said Maureen Freaney, director of the county's Health and Human Services.

Advocates say funding to build the facility was available, but money to run the site this year and in the future is less certain.

Local philanthropists offered money that would have gone toward rehabilitating buildings and purchasing modular ones, said Sarah Snyder, executive director of Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless.

But the $2-million or more needed each year to run the shelter just isn't available, she said.

The city of Largo bought the 5-acre PSTA site south of Roosevelt Boulevard on the west side of 49th Street in December 2005 with an eye toward expanding its nearby wastewater treatment plant. City leaders welcomed the interim homeless service center there because they didn't have immediate plans for plant expansion. Largo was awaiting word from the county before moving forward with a land-use change necessary for the project.

In tight budget times like these, Snyder said, creating new facilities is not as crucial as maintaining current services. She predicted dire consequences if voters support the proposed superhomestead exemption in January.

"We're going to lose existing shelters," Snyder said.

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

"We're not giving up on the idea of having homeless service centers," Snyder said. "I'm not sure it's going to be at the PSTA."

Tuesday, county commissioners met for a workshop on initiatives for fighting homelessness. There, Commission Chairman Ronnie Duncan said he wanted to keep those who led the charge to find a suitable site in the loop.

"You've got a group of people who are still out there thinking this may become a reality. While I still believe it has some merit to it, the fact of the matter is I don't see the bucket of money from where it would come ..." Duncan said.

St. Petersburg College president Carl Kuttler, who led an advisory group that helped select the PSTA site along with Progress Energy chief executive Jeff Lyash, said Friday he hadn't heard any news about the PSTA shelter. But he wasn't shocked to hear it was in limbo.

"When we first started, they had no budget cuts. Now we have mammoth ones," Kuttler said.

County leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to various homeless strategies Tuesday, including the support of an interfaith program to provide temporary winter shelter.

Lorri Helfand can be reached at lorri@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4155.

FAST FACTS: Numbers and ideas

Annual Pinellas County one-day homeless count in 2007: 5,195

Projected annual total for 2007: 20,764

Some key strategies supported by county officials:

• Continue to work with the Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless the Homeless Leadership Network and the Health & Human Services Coordinating Council to implement the 10-year plan to end homelessness
• Maintain current homeless funding at $12.8-million annually
• Refine the Homeless Street Outreach Program, Community Case Manager Program and other new homeless initiatives
• Implement the Interfaith Shelter Program for the seasonal homeless (Dec. 1 to March 15)
• Use data on the homeless to assess program effectiveness and determine unmet service needs.

[Last modified August 18, 2007, 00:56:22]