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Shelter director quits coalition
By RYAN DAVIS HUDSON -- If Pasco County is going to secure federal money to help its homeless, it's going to have to do it without the county's largest and only all-inclusive homeless shelter. Lisa Barabas-Henry, the director of Holy Ground homeless shelter, told the St. Petersburg Times during a weekend interview that she has quit the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco, the group of social service agencies seeking the elusive money. Her resignation comes as the county's homeless problem is on the verge of hitting a new high. Barabas-Henry said her nearly 10-year-old shelter, which was originally an all men's shelter, has more women and children than men. The slumping economy has hit hard, she said. Among the residents are people like William Zblewski, who lost his job at an oil company in Texas, and came to Florida with his wife and three of his kids in search of jobs. "It's not the alcoholics and addicts anymore," Barabas-Henry said. "I'm heating up bottles and bathing babies in my sink at night." There are smaller shelters in Pasco for runaway teens, women and children, but Holy Ground, U.S. 19 and Denton Avenue, is the only place for everyone. Last year at Thanksgiving it had about 45 residents. This year Barabas-Henry has 68. She has already put up two military tents to hold more people. She expects 100 to 120 by Christmas. That would be a record. In her calm moments, she said her resignation stems from the homeless influx. She lives on the grounds with the homeless and she's tired and too busy, she said, holding up the knuckles she recently burnt when she fell asleep holding a cigarette. In her angrier moments, she said she quit because she doesn't see her shelter benefiting if Pasco gets money next year. Other members of the coalition will get it, she said. "I should be No. 1," Barabas-Henry said, "but they say I'm up against some competition. What competition? "I'm the only homeless shelter." The coalition is a group of representatives from social service agencies that help the homeless. Until recently it has been plagued by disorganization. Pasco has the dubious distinction of being the state's most populous county to never have received -- or even applied for -- money from the federal government's biggest pot of money for helping the homeless. The coalition is seeking to change that. Based on population and demographics, Pasco could be eligible for about $850,000. In order to get the money, the coalition must submit an application next spring that paints a picture of homelessness in Pasco. It must include an accurate count of the county's homeless. That count is slated for Tuesday. It also must include a plan, which includes all the county's homeless resources, for getting a homeless person into a shelter and eventually into permanent housing. Barabas-Henry, in a letter to the coalition, has pulled out of that plan. She will continue to take in homeless, but she has no plans to share information the coalition needs for its grant application, and she doesn't want to be included. She feels used, she said. Other agencies turn away people knowing she will take them, she said. "We'll give them to Lisa, but we won't give her any money," she said, describing the coalition's plan. The impact of her resignation remains unclear. It depends on how much she intends to still work with the coalition. Earlier this year when Barabas-Henry increased her role with the group, even half-heartedly running for chairwoman, then-chairman David Barzelay touted her involvement as "a major step." Now that she's quit, coalition leaders are saying it shouldn't hurt. "I don't see it having an impact on us moving forward," said Harvey Landress, a vice president at Gulf Coast Jewish Family Services who is spearheading the push for money. He said a lot of informal coordination goes on between the agencies. Landress also said the move is not surprising because the prominent role of religion at Holy Ground has kept Barabas-Henry from ever receiving government money. Both President Bush and the Florida Legislature have announced plans to help faith-based groups secure government funding, but Barabas-Henry said the effects haven't found her dusty shelter. So it's better for her to forget about it, she said. She will continue to hope the coalition can get the money. "I pray they do," she said, "because they need it." -- Ryan Davis is the police reporter in Pasco County. He can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6245, or toll-free at 800-333-7505, ext. 6245. His e-mail address is rdavis@sptimes.com.
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