Tampa on 29 cents per day
Hillsborough County is wringing its hands and trying to figure out just what to do with the estimated 11,000 homeless people on our streets. Remember: this is a community that gives away sports palaces worth hundreds of millions of dollars to millionaire billionaire capitalists who turn around and set ticket and concession prices that prevent the average citizen from ever stepping foot inside, yet the best we can do for the homeless is allocate 29 cents per day per homeless person. That's just .08% of the county budget.
After more than a year of meetings, a countywide task force offered recommendations Monday to provide homeless people with affordable housing, medical care, job training and employment.
But the plan hinges on a familiar goal: Hillsborough County must find a dedicated source of money to attract federal grants and provide such services.
The goal is a hot potato for politicians, who don't want to be associated with increasing taxes.
In Miami-Dade County, organizers created a penny restaurant tax to generate money for programs to help the homeless; more than 30 percent comes from tourists. In Broward County, the county government got permission to augment its budget with proceeds from a state gas tax that, in turn, allows Broward to operate three homeless assistance centers.
There are ways to be creative, said Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who spearheaded the formation of the Tampa-Hillsborough Citizens Task Force on Homelessness.
But finding the source doesn't necessarily mean an additional tax, she said.
During a task force meeting with social service providers, religious leaders and law enforcement officers, Iorio suggested scouring existing funds countywide.
She pointed to Hillsborough County's millage as one area to study.
"I know the county would like to see a solution, too," Iorio said after the meeting.
Hillsborough's growing homeless population totaled 11,000 during the latest count in January.
The county already funds social service programs, including those that benefit the homeless, Assistant County Administrator Manus O'Donnell said.
This year's budget, which takes effect Oct. 1, has earmarked $524,000 in local and federal money for case management for the homeless and $628,000 for cash assistance to the homeless, O'Donnell said.