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Homeless Share Hope, Holiday Breakfast

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By ROD CHALLENGER, News Channel 8

Published: December 26, 2007

Updated: 12/25/2007 11:45 pm

ST. PETERSBURG - For more than 200 homeless people in Pinellas County, the Christmas holiday was in marked contrast to last year. The residents enjoyed a holiday breakfast served by volunteers at the new Project Hope, a tent city on 126th Avenue. Later, Santa's helpers brought gifts.

Project Hope is the new homeless center run by Catholic Charities that opened this month in response to the need to replace the makeshift communities that sprang up near downtown last year. At one point, St. Petersburg police slashed and confiscated tents in homeless enclaves in an effort to remove the group.

"The big major difference that I see is that we're welcome here. Catholic Charities has opened their arms to us and allowed us to come here to a less chaotic place," Hope resident Tony Such said.

Another resident, Charles Roach Jr., said the new homeless site seems to be nicer and more secure with more amenities.
Catholic Charities President Frank Murphy said volunteers, who are essential to Project Hope, are pitching in to help.

"The good news is that the meals are filling up and people are coming out serving meals and really enjoying it and actually coming back to do more," he said.

The goal of Project Hope is to eventually provide permanent homes for the 233 residents now living in tents. In the encampment's first three weeks, social workers placed 10 people in homes.

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