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Letter to the editor

Affordable housing, services at Goodwill

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 14, 2008

COUNTYWIDE

Did you know Goodwill offers affordable living options for people with low incomes, including seniors and people with disabilities?

Goodwill's Freedom Villages, in Tampa, Pinellas Park and Clearwater, offer one- and two-bedroom apartments. Heritage Oaks in Palm Harbor offers one-bedroom apartments for people 62 and older with low incomes.

All four properties feature well-maintained buildings with community rooms and common areas. On-site Goodwill service coordinators at each facility help residents connect with community resources and services.

The HUD-subsidized apartment buildings, owned and operated by Goodwill Industries-Suncoast, are architecturally barrier-free to accommodate the needs of people with physical disabilities.

There are often waiting lists for these apartments. Prospective residents should call the property in which they are interested to check availability or to be put on a waiting list. The four Goodwill apartment communities are:

- Freedom Village I, 7700 66th St. N, Pinellas Park, (727) 541-6620

- Freedom Village II, 5002 S Bridge St., Tampa, (813) 831-6988

- Freedom Village III, 1167 Turner St., Clearwater, (727) 443-6799

- Heritage Oaks of Palm Harbor, 2351 Alderman Road, Palm Harbor, (727) 787-0792

For general information about Goodwill apartments, visit the Housing page at www.goodwill-suncoast.com.

DUNEDIN

Guided nature walks offered on Saturdays

See a variety of plants and wildlife in their natural habitat on guided walks with Florida Park Service rangers at Honeymoon Island State Park at 11 a.m. every Saturday through March.

The walks are free, however, there is a park entrance fee of $5 for two to eight people in a vehicle, $3 for one person in a vehicle and $1 for walkers or bicyclists.

Meet the ranger at the beginning of the Nature Trail. The park is at 1 Causeway Blvd., Dunedin. For more information, call the park at (727) 469-5942 or visit www.floridastateparks.org.

COUNTYWIDE

Guardian ad Litem looking for volunteers

Pinellas County's Guardian Ad Litem program will soon begin training volunteers to act as the courtroom voice for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect.

Guardian ad Litem volunteers visit the child once a month, become familiar with his or her case and make recommendations to help ensure the child has a safe, caring and stable environment. The average time needed is four to six hours a month.

Thirty hours of training are required, and guardians receive ongoing assistance. The next class starts Saturday at Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg.

To volunteer and arrange to attend a one hour orientation, call (727) 464-6528. For more information, a training schedule and an application go to www.guardianadlitem6.org .

COUNTYWIDE

Parent Aide Program seeks volunteers

You can assist parents who are seeking help

The Parent Aide Program needs volunteers to help those who are looking to become better parents.

Aides spend one to two hours each week mentoring a parent.

For details, call Kerri Pedersen at 399-5744, ext. 168, or visit www.HelpAChild.org.

COUNTYWIDE

Team ready to help spay and neuter pets

February is spay/neuter month.

SPOT (Stop Pet Overpopulation Together) is teaming up with local veterinarians in Pinellas County to offer low-cost spay/neuter for cats and dogs.

Any cat or dog at least 8 weeks old can be signed up. Special "neuterathon" prices: male cats $35, female cats $40, male dogs $40 and female dogs $45-$90 depending on weight.

SPOT offers low-cost spay/neuter vouchers available online at www.SPOTusa.org or call (727) 545-3463 for details.

CLEARWATER

Learn about topics of the law at seminars

The People's Law School will continue weekly at the Drew Street campus of St. Petersburg College on Thursdays through April. Participants may attend as few or as many sessions as they wish, free of charge. No registration is required. For information, call (727) 461-4869 or visit www.clearwaterbar.org.

The class schedule includes:

- Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m., Topic to be announced.

- Feb. 28, 7 to 7:55 p.m., Construction Contracts; 8:05 to 9 p.m., Mechanic's Liens.

- March 6, 7 to 7:55 p.m., Consumer Complaints; 8:05 to 9 p.m., Mediation & Arbitration.

- March 13, 7 to 9 p.m., Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning.

- March 20, No class. Spring Break.

- March 27, 7 to 7:55 p.m., State of Our Circuit; 8:05 to 9 p.m., Small Claims.

- April 3, 7 to 9 p.m., Family Law.

COUNTYWIDE

Good at negotiating? Elders need you

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program administered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs is seeking men and women of all professional and cultural backgrounds who have concerns of residents' rights and are good at negotiating and advocating.

Mileage and meal reimbursements are provided at the state rate for all official ombudsman duties.

Call 588-6912 or toll-free 1-888-831-0404 to apply for the next training class.

[Last modified February 13, 2008, 21:37:19]