An open letter to our Citrus County Commissioners:
Dear Citrus County Board of Commissioners,
The most recent homeless count in Citrus County put the numbers close to 300, but we know the actual number to be much higher.Closer to 1000..The children under age 18 that are becoming homeless are increasing..The elderly numbers are increasing.Mothers and their children are increasing..The present economy is affecting everyone.Why are the Commissioners of Citrus County ignoring the ever increasing problem ? Recent research has shown that the word homeless was only discussed six times since August 2006, and was only briefly discussed.Ignoring the issue is no longer an option..The County has less than 50 beds operated by private groups.And only one is a real homeless shelter…And the rest are to sleep and eat where ? Homelessness is treated like a criminal offense in Citrus County..They are harassed and forced to live in shame.Pushed from one end of the County to the other. The County Government is responsible for the safety, health , and welfare of all it’s citizens. Not just those in homes.It is time to crunch those numbers.The poor are getting poorer and jobs are nowhere to be found.A temporary to permanent solution must be acted on now.
The sad part is that the County operates an animal shelter , but does nothing for fellow human beings.
How many empty commercial buildings are in Citrus County ? Plenty.. And many are located where they would ,and could benefit the homeless.It is a proven fact that it is far cheaper to shelter and care for the homeless than increased medical costs and jail ,while living in the woods and swamps.
Has no one noticed how few signed up for the turkey giveaway. The homeless and poor are scared to death..Has no one noticed that the young people in the County can no longer afford insurance,tags,child support, or to keep their cars in legal shape. When people are scared to come and get much needed food and other basic needs for survival…We have a problem..Politics and technology are hurting the poor and homeless..Not helping..Fact…Law enforcement and bill collectors can access all information..And their so called crimes are due to the economy.
And all efforts to this point have been fruitless..
Homeless persons and advocates throughout the country have worked to prevent the passage of laws and to halt policies and practices that criminalize homelessness. Unfortunately, cities and police departments sometimes do not respond to such advocacy in any productive way. When local governments fail to respond to policy advocacy, homeless persons and their advocates have turned to litigation to end these laws and practices.
As successful litigation has shown, many of the practices and policies that punish the public performance of life-sustaining activities by homeless persons violate the constitutional rights of homeless persons.
And they get sued and lose..And it costs the taxpayer even more money..Do your research..Citrus County is close to numerous lawsuits..But that benefits no one..We do not want that..But you are starting to give the homeless little choice..It is time for you to get from behind your desk and go out and see what is happening..Better yet..
Get up tomorrow morning and dress in the latest homeless attire..Then walk throughout the County..Check out all the homeless shelters and where the poor hang out..Count how many times you are harassed for no reason.Then deal with it..Failure and inaction is no longer an option.
The role of a progressive social service provider in working with people in distress is to believe in their worth and dignity — despite their present circumstances — and to expect (and encourage) them to live up to their highest goals. Since we all know that homelessness is not a healthy choice and would not feel comfortable if someone we loved settled for that condition, it’s crucial to reinforce people’s belief in the importance of getting off the streets, and their confidence that it can be done. To expect less for homeless people is to give up on them, to contribute to their own sense of hopelessness, and to participate in their abandonment by the rest of society.But they need funds…
Homeless people are not all criminals.They are not all drunks and crackheads.In fact…Most are just like you, minus a home or worldly possessions.Many formerly homeless people have done well for themselves and others.Below is a description and link that just might amaze you..
“Total Names: 145 Males: 107 Females: 38 Nobel Prize Winners: 1 Nobel Prize Nominees: 2 (includes above) Oscar Winners: 5 Oscar Nominees: 9 (includes above) Emmy Award Winners: 7 Emmy Award Nominees: 10 (includes above) Grammy Award Winners: 8 Grammy Award Nominees: 13 (includes above) Best-Selling Authors: 6 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients (U.S.’s highest civilian honor): 1 Knighthoods: 1 Note: This is a list of celebrities and other prominent and famous individuals who have experienced being homeless for a brief or extended period at one time in their lives, either as children or adults. If available, the location of where the person slept at night is indicated in parentheses. “Camping” refers to homeless camping, not recreational camping.” THE NAMES ON THIS LIST WILL SURPRISE YOU!
http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/lists/homeless.html
By definition, people who are homeless live in public. A lack of housing forces them to do in public what everyone prefers to do in private. This indignity is one of many reasons we seek to end homelessness. Unfortunately, it has also become the battleground for the most fundamental defense of people who happen to be homeless: the right to exist.
During these tough economic times, I am hopeful you will champion an immediate — yet perhaps temporary — solution to the problem by opening county land or a suitable county park for temporary shelter.Or like the Indians..Give them a Reservation..Better than the swamps..
There are countless reasons not to do so (social considerations, safety/security, maintenance/upkeep, potential ongoing tent city, liability exposures, etc.), but the complications are minimal compared to the pain and suffering endured by our less-fortunate neighbors.
Please do something..Before more dead bodies are found due to the lack of services and help available..
Thank you for your consideration.