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Advocates Push For More Shelters

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By TODD LESKANIC, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 25, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - Jan Martini's cell phones were ringing nonstop as storms rolled into Pasco County on Saturday night.

Most of the callers had a similar question: Would there be a shelter opened to help the homeless ride out the weather?

Martini, chairwoman of Fresh Start for Pasco and a member of the county's homeless coalition, had to give them the bad news. One of the county's few weather shelters, First United Methodist Church in New Port Richey, can open only when temperatures dip into the 30s. The building isn't used for storms, Martini said.

When the shelter opened Sunday afternoon, about 15 people showed up seeking a warm, dry place to sleep as temperatures plunged into the 30s. The shelter reopened Monday night, as the weather remained chilly, and another 15 people came in.

The story illustrates some of the problems facing advocates for the homeless in Pasco County. Although experts say there are thousands of homeless people in the county, there are few shelters to help them ride out cold weather.

The First United Methodist Church on Indiana Avenue has been designated a cold-weather shelter. That means it will open if the temperature drops below 36 degrees or if the wind chill knocks the temperature under 36.

Now, members of the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County are looking for churches in other parts of the county to open up to the homeless on cold nights. The coalition met Thursday to discuss ideas and seek volunteers.

The eventual goal is to have multiple shelters in west, central and east Pasco that are open consistently, so those in need don't have to wonder where to go when chilly weather sets in.

At First United Methodist, shelter seekers get a cot and blanket, dinner, breakfast the next morning and a bag of food to take with them when they leave. The shelter closes at 8 a.m.
Coalition members hope to open similar shelters across the county. Anyone interested in helping should call Martini at (727) 243-1367.

Reporter Todd Leskanic can be reached at (352) 521-3156 or tleskanic@tampatrib.com.

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