May 18, 2013
The Department of Children and Families says across Florida there are more than 60-thousand homeless people of which about
20-thousand are children, so state homeless advocates say they're doing what they can, one community at a time.
Allan Katz with the Tallahassee city commission said, "The pressure at the bottom of our economic pyramid is going to be felt the greatest by those at the bottom, which is why the work being done here is more important than ever."
With some big help from the state, the Big Bend Homeless Coalition is still providing even through tough economic times. The Department of Children and Families says about $684, 000 dollars in grant money will provide permanent housing for 25 struggling families like Susan Stewart and her 7 year old daughter. They are currently residents in the Hope Community, which is only temporary.
"That's something I worried about was where I was going to go after this program. It's only a six month program." said Stewart.
Kay Freeman with the Big Bend Homeless Coalition says for single moms like Stewart, it can be hard to afford even the average housing in our area. "If you're a single person with children--even to afford that one bedroom apartment and share your room with your kids, you have to work 89 hours a week on minimum wage." said Freeman.
But Good News Outreach says at Maryland Oaks, the allocation site for the grant money, there will be a new neighborhood of opportunity for parents and their children. "I'm getting my self esteem back and my pride back. I want my daughter to look up to me again, so it's giving me a chance to do that." said Stewart.
The grant from D.C.F. was a part of 6.9 million dollars given to communities throughout Florida to provide homeless assistance.
