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Tent City In Pinellas Seeing More Recently Unemployed Homeless

News Channel 8 photo by WALLY PATANOW

At first, most of the clients at Catholic Charities' Pinellas Hope were chronic homeless people with histories of mental or substance abuse, said Frank Murphy, spokesman for the charity. Now about 30 percent of new residents are "economic homeless" – people who recently have lost jobs and homes and have nowhere else to go.

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By YOLANDA FERNANDEZ | News Channel 8

Published: March 10, 2009

PINELLAS PARK - The population at Pinellas Hope, a "tent city" providing housing for homeless people, includes a growing number of people who have lost their jobs and their homes.

Catholic Charities opened the seasonal camp on 10 acres at 126th Avenue North near 49th street in December 2007. Last year Pinellas County, St. Petersburg and other local governments contributed money to keep it open throughout the year.

At first most of the clients were chronic homeless people with histories of mental or substance abuse, said Frank Murphy, spokesman for Catholic Charities. Now about 30 percent of new residents are "economic homeless" – people who recently have lost jobs and homes and have nowhere else to go.

Workers in certain types of jobs are hit hardest. "We have a lot of folks that do construction, a lot of folks that are cooks and waiters and waitresses that can't find jobs and if they find jobs they're only part time, and it's difficult for them," said Sheila Lopez, director of Pinellas Hope. "They need fulltime regular jobs."

Pinellas Hope not only is a safe place to stay, it provides job listings, a case manager and transportation to work.

The poor job market is affecting how long residents stay at Pinellas Hope. Last year the average stay was 52 days; now it is 75 days.

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