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Boys & Girls Club

MOSI focusing more on community outreach

March 11, 2020 By Kevin Weiss

In just a few years, the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) has gone from being millions of dollars in debt to being financially sustainable, operating in the black.

The turnaround of the North Tampa organization has come under the new leadership of Julian McKenzie, who was promoted as museum CEO in 2017, after serving less than a year as its CFO.

Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) CEO Julian McKenzie was the featured guest speaker at the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting earlier this month at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of MOSI)

The museum leader led a restructuring effort that saw the organization downsize its East Fowler Avenue campus from 300,000 square feet to about 55,000 square feet, while trimming just about 10% of overall exhibit space.

“The big issue for MOSI was it was trying to be too much for too many people,” McKenzie said, during a recent North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting.

Museum leadership had to reconfigure its “core competencies and core values,” the CEO added, during the session, at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel.

That has meant a shift toward a greater focus on community outreach — a mission of spreading more science education in schools and other youth organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, and Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, McKenzie said.

It’s entailed a renovated learning center on campus to host homeschooled children and summer camps, as well as a mobile science lab that features interactive STEAM workshops and assemblies. Another new program, in partnership with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, allows youth get to build a robot with the help of a police office, “so that it kind of demystifies the role of law enforcement,” McKenzie said.

“For me, outreach is essential,” the speaker said. “There is no reason why a kid in Dade City cannot benefit from the same level of science education as a kid from Temple Terrace.”

MOSI reopened in November 2017 following a three-month renovation.

Since then, the venue has hosted about 70,000 children through school field trips, and has reached another 55,000 through its mobile outreach program, McKenzie said.

Roughly 50% of children lose interest in science by eighth grade, he said.

He believes MOSI’s outreach efforts can change that.

The museum executive detailed how one of his colleagues is a first-generation immigrant whose parents don’t speak English, but a MOSI youth summer camp sparked interest in volunteering at the museum and then going on to college.

There are “dozens of other examples” of people who caught the science bug on a MOSI field trip or visit and are now leading engineers at institutions like Georgia Tech “and some other fancy universities,” McKenzie said.

He also told those gathered at the chamber breakfast that there’s a correlation among cities with “very, very strong science centers that are very involved in the local community” to high-paying jobs and high average median salaries in those particular communities.

McKenzie also shared a story about a Temple Terrace-based school where science pass rates were just 14%. After MOSI implemented outreach programs at the school, those rates rose to 48%, he said.

“I don’t want to fault the teachers, but it’s the foundation that is missing, and what we at MOSI are good at doing is building a strong foundation in science education for those kids.”

He continued, “We have the expertise in-house, and so what we’re pushing is the expertise that we have accumulated and track record that we’ve had in doing so. The results we have at that one school are systematic of what MOSI can have.”

McKenzie outlined MOSI’s next “ambitious plan” is to host education outreach days to all schools in the following area counties — DeSoto, Hardee, Hillsborough, Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas. Put another way, he believes MOSI “can reach 221,000 kids and really make a difference.”

The museum also has launched an outreach program to serve at-risk youth at various juvenile detention centers in the area.

“If we can light that spark and do something that they change their way of life — or they have something to focus on — then I think we have really achieved our objective,” McKenzie said.

“It kind of dawned on me, that was an area of the community that we’re not touching,” he said. “But, they are the kids that, in my opinion, are the most in need.”

Meanwhile, McKenzie said museum leadership has worked to boost visitor experience with more hands-on, functional exhibits on polymers, DNA, rockets, robots and astronomy, as well as establishing an art factory with a resident artist.

And, the museum isn’t just for kids.

The venue has introduced “Science After Dark” allowing adults to tour the facility with light appetizers, and beer and wine samplings. The next event is scheduled for April 6 at 6 p.m.

The museum also plays host to STEM networking, corporate teambuilding and events geared toward seniors. “We’re trying to have that balance,” McKenzie said of serving various community segments.

As for other plans, McKenzie pitched the possibility of changing the name to “Museum of Science and Innovation,” and developing an exhibit to showcase the region’s most innovative technology companies. “It’s part of our strategic review we’re going through,” he said of the name change proposal.

McKenzie, too, addressed rumors of MOSI getting moved to downtown Tampa, so Hillsborough County can redevelop the present site: “As you all know, anything to do with government takes decades, so I’m not too worried about it. We’re doing well, we’re thriving where we’re at, and that’s where I want us to stay, moving forward and impacting kids as we’re there.”

He also said this: “Before I joined (MOSI), I thought, ‘What the heck am I getting myself into?,’ and I look at it today, and I’m very happy to say it has completely turned around and the institution is very, very strong right now.”

Published March 11, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Boy Scouts, Boys & Girls Club, Georgia Tech, Girl Scouts, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Julian McKenzie, MOSI, Museum of Science and Industry, Pasco-Hernando State College, Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch

Remembering Pete ‘Hutch’ Brock II, a community servant

February 5, 2020 By Brian Fernandes

Pete Hutchinson “Hutch” Brock II, a former Dade City mayor who was active in community life — passed away on Jan. 26, at age 54.

Brock served on the Dade City Commission from 2000 to 2004, then as Dade City’s mayor from 2004 to 2008, according to an obituary posted on the Hodges Family Funeral Home website.

“While he was mayor, we had an unprecedented period of annexations – undeveloped property coming into the city of Dade City,” current Commissioner Scott Black told The Laker/Lutz News. “He was looking out for the future sustainability of the city.”

Besides his work as an attorney, involvement in civic life and community service, Pete Hutchison ‘Hutch’ Brock II enjoyed outdoor activities and leisure time with family. (Courtesy of Hodges Family Funeral Home)

Brock also was involved in efforts to revitalize Dade City’s downtown and preserve its historic character, according to current Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez.

He “brought enthusiasm to the office of mayor” and his leadership left a distinct impression, she said.

“His focus on maintaining the historic charm of Dade City will not be forgotten,” Hernandez added.

Details of his public service were noted on the funeral home’s website and circulated by The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Brock was an advocate for youth.

He served on the board of the Pasco Education Foundation, and he supported the work of the Boys & Girls Club in Lacoochee.

He gave of his time and talents for 20 years to Sunrise of Pasco County, an organization that provides shelter and services for survivors of domestic violence.

He maintained memberships with Rotary Clubs in Dade City and Wesley Chapel, and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He served on the administrative council at his church, too.

Other areas of involvement included advocating for the renewal of Penny for Pasco, a tax initiative that increases Pasco County revenue; and, supporting the efforts of East and Central Pasco Habitat for Humanity, which helps families and individuals obtain affordable housing.

He was a sports enthusiast.

He played baseball and football in his youth, and coached youth baseball, flag football and soccer. He enjoyed outdoor activities, such as boating and fishing.

As a graduate of the University of Florida, he was an unabashed Gator fan.

Born on April 5, 1965, Brock grew up in Dade City. He attended Pasco High School before transferring to Jesuit High School, in Tampa, where he graduated.

After high school, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, before transferring in 1984 to the University of Florida, where he met his wife, Natalie.

He obtained his Bachelor of Science and Business Administration degree in 1987, then a law degree in 1990.

He was hired by Fowler White, a legal firm in Tampa, where he remained four years before moving back to his hometown and becoming a legal partner at Dade City’s Johnson, Auvil, Brock & Pratico, P.A. He remained there for over 17 years.

He launched his own practice, Brock Law LLC, in Wesley Chapel, in 2012. His legal work focused on personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect and employment disputes.

He and his wife, Natalie, had three sons, Carson, Coleman and Connor Mack, and a daughter, Ashton. Besides his wife and children, he is survived by his father Pete, and two sisters, Nancy and Haley.

Tributes on the funeral home’s website describe Brock as a great man, whose death is a loss for the community.

Commissioner Black seems to share that opinion.

“He’s always going to be revered, that’s for sure. He’ll have that legacy,” Black said.

Published February 05, 2020

Filed Under: Local News, Zephyrhills/East Pasco News Tagged With: Boys & Girls Club, Brock Law LLC, Camille Hernandez, Dade City, Dade City Commission, Fowler White, Hodges Family Funeral Home, Johnson Auvil Brock & Pratico, Pasco Education Foundation, Pasco Habitat for Humanity, Pasco High School, Paul Harris Fellow, Penny for Pasco, Pete Hutchinson Brock II, Rotary Club, Scott Black, Sunrise of Pasco County, The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, University of Florida, University of Pennsylvania

Helping children to have a Happy Birthday

October 23, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Birthday parties and children seem to go together naturally — but some children are in situations in which his or her birthday can be overlooked.

That’s where Celebrate Birthdays, a nonprofit organization, comes in.

It collaborates with organizations and agencies to find foster kids, other kids with certain needs or kids in clubs, to throw a birthday party for them.

The Celebrate Birthdays organization provides children throughout the Tampa Bay area with elaborate parties for their own birthdays. (Courtesy of Belinda Leto)

Belinda Leto and Celina Saunders founded Celebrate Birthdays.

They go to various locations and throw a monthly birthday party, for all of the children at that particular place celebrating a birthday that month.

The festivities include cake, ice cream, games, activities and presents for all the children at the party — whether they are celebrating their birthday or not, Leto said.

“We want every kid to feel special,” she said.

“It makes them look forward to when it’s their birthday, knowing we’ll show up consistently,” Saunders said. “We do not disappoint.”

The idea for creating Celebrate Birthdays came up two years ago, when Leto was involved in her church’s gift donation program.

She said she was approached by a grandmother who asked whether there were  local services that provided birthday gifts for children.

Leto didn’t know, so she reached out to a friend who worked for Hillsborough County. She found out that the county wasn’t aware of such programs either.

So, Leto and Saunders set out to fill that gap.

“That was the initial spark and seed that really started the idea,” Leto said.

Celebrate Birthdays began serving children, and in March, it was officially recognized as a nonprofit organization.

News of the program’s existence has spread mostly through word of mouth and social media.

The organization also collaborates with organizations such as the Joshua House and the Boys & Girls Club, who refer children to Celebrate Birthdays.

Even a local Girl Scout troop has assisted the effort by collecting gifts and forming a bond with a “birthday buddy.”

“It’s kids helping kids,” Leto remarked. “It doesn’t get much better than that.”

Children who are not part of an organization are not overlooked, she said.

With “Birthday in a Box,” gifts and birthday supplies are stocked up in individual boxes to be sent to children’s homes.

However, community support is needed to keep spreading the joy.

The organization receives gift donations from individuals and various establishments.

Some local businesses accept toy donations on their premises for the organization.

And, Celebrate Birthdays hosts fundraisers and applies for grants, as well.

Volunteers pitch in, too, including high school students.

Leto and Saunders also have recruited their own children to help.

The organization currently covers Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, with intentions to branch out into Hardee and Highlands counties.

Being part of Celebrate Birthdays is rewarding, Saunders said.

“I think there’s a different feel when you are volunteering your time and not expecting anything in return,” she said.

Being in a position to help the children makes her appreciate her blessings all the more, she said.

“It’s such an overwhelming sense of gratitude. There’s not a price tag on that,” Saunders said.

To learn more about the nonprofit or to make an online donation, please visit CelebrateBirthdays.org.

Published October 23, 2019

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Belinda Leto, Boys & Girls Club, Celebrate Birthdays, Celina Saunders, Joshua House

Neighbors object, but family housing OK’d

June 27, 2018 By Kathy Steele

The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County can move forward with plans to temporarily house homeless families in a building at the former campus of the Boys & Girls Club in Port Richey.

The coalition, with support from other social service agencies, also will open the Housing Services Center, which will administratively help families and individuals seeking permanent housing and other services.

A former Boys & Girls Club on Youth Lane in Port Richey will be renovated and opened as a temporary shelter for homeless families, and administrative offices for the Housing Services Center.
(File)

The Pasco County Commission, with Commissioner Jack Mariano dissenting, approved the coalition’s plan at its June 19 meeting in New Port Richey.

Commissioners also approved a 15-year lease agreement for $1 a year; and, a $190,000 contract to design renovations of two buildings at 8239 Youth Lane.

During the public hearing, many area residents who live near the site gave county commissioners the same unified message they’ve delivered before: They don’t want the coalition in their neighborhood, and they are voters.

Residents say they worry about crime, loss of property values, and safety.

“We deserve to be heard. We deserve to be listened to. We live and sleep here,” said Suzanne Greene Taldone, a resident in nearby Crane’s Roost. “You keep trying to put a square peg into a round hole.”

Supporters, including most county commissioners, say it’s overdue for Pasco to step up efforts to help the homeless population.

Data from the coalition puts the number of homeless people in Pasco County at about 2,500. Homeless families make up about 1,800 of those people and there are about 700 single adults.

Mary Ashcraft is pastor at Joining Hands Mission Church and opens the church to the homeless in cold weather. She supports the coalition’s project.

“There’s so many families out there,” she said. “I get phone calls, and I have nowhere to send them but Metropolitan Ministries. They go a great job, but they are full and packed.”

The county owns the land on Youth Lane and is providing at least $700,000 in grants, and other sources, to pay for building renovations.

“I think we’re going to do the right thing,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. “Sometimes, we just have to take a chance.”

The lease agreement has a 90-day written notice of termination clause.

Starkey said, “If it doesn’t go right, we’ll do something about it.”

Crane’s Roost resident Valerie Schaefer said the coalition’s programs would be like a magnet — attracting more homeless people and transients into the neighborhood.

“We taxpayers and voters will hold you commissioners responsible if you vote this through,” she said.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano
(File)

Mariano shared concerns that the Housing Services Center could have people loitering in the area. He also thought spending available grants on Habitat for Humanity houses would be a better option.

“The issue is something we’re all sensitive to. It’s only primarily about location to the neighbors,” Mariano said. “I still don’t think it’s the right project.”

The programs approved by county commissioners were a change from the initial project to open a one-stop navigation center, with wrap-around services and a shelter for adult men and women.

Most supporters liked the shift in direction to help homeless families; while others still favored the original navigation center concept.

Under the amended proposal, the center will house four to eight families in the former teen center that’s on the site. They can receive services for up to 180 days, though coalition representatives say they expect most will be there about 45 days before transitioning to permanent housing.

No more than 36 people can stay there at any one time.

There also will be background checks, curfews, security cameras, and staff members onsite at the family shelter 24 hours a day.

Plus, the coalition will limit services available at the Housing Services Center, which will operate Monday through Friday office hours.

There will be no showers, emergency food or clothing, or health care services.

Those conditions convinced owners of an adjacent shopping plaza to support the coalition.

“This is not going to bring people out of the camps,” said Robert Lincoln, an attorney representing the plaza owners. “There’s not giveaways. It’s not going to be the anchor for bringing those people into the area.”

Chase Daniels, assistant executive director for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, also voiced Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco’s continued support for the program.

The coalition will provide desk space for deputies working in the area. They can stop by and fill out their paperwork, Daniels said. “They will have a presence,” he added.

Published June 27, 2018

Filed Under: Local News, News Stories Tagged With: Boys & Girls Club, Chase Daniels, Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, Commissioner Jack Mariano, Crane's Roost, Habitat for Humanity, Housing Services Center, Joining Hands Mission Church, Mary Ashcraft, Metropolitan Ministries, New Port Richey, Pasco County, Pasco County Commission, Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco, Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Port Richey, Robert Lincoln, Suzanne Greene Taldone, Valerie Schaefer, Youth Lane

Review board recommends family homeless shelter

June 13, 2018 By Kathy Steele

The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a program to temporarily house homeless families in a former Boys & Girls Club building.

Planning commissioners reached that recommendation during a public hearing on June 6.

The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County wants to operate the temporary shelter on Youth Lane in Port Richey. The coalition also wants to open administrative offices in a second building, designated as the Housing Services Center. Individuals and families would be able to receive a range of social services at the center, with a primary focus on housing for the homeless population.

About 50 people attended a public hearing to oppose a program from the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County to operate a temporary shelter for families, and provide additional services at a Housing Services Center. (Kathy Steele)

The county owns the land, and has partnered with the coalition to get the program up and running.

About $700,000 in grants, and other funding sources, has been allocated for building renovations.

The Pasco County Commission is expected to make the final decision at a June 19 meeting in New Port Richey. Commissioners also will vote on an amendment to the county’s comprehensive land use plan to change the land use from open space/recreational to a public/semi-public use.

About 50 people attended the planning commission’s public hearing to show their opposition to the project. Most of the concerns, however, focused on the services available at the services center, not the temporary family shelter.

Area residents worried about increasing crime, a loss in property values, and overall public safety.

“The only good thing about this program is the good intentions,” said Suzanne Greene Taldone, who lives in the Crane’s Roost subdivision, off Little Road.

She thinks the coalition’s site will become a magnet for transients and will create “a cesspool of crime.”

Greene added: “Encampments flourish near these centers because they want to be first in line for services.”

The program was initially proposed in 2017 as a temporary shelter for adult men and women, with a focus on providing a one-stop center for social services and with a goal of placing people in permanent housing.

Amid strong opposition from residents, the coalition changed its purpose to instead help families only at the shelter. Coalition representatives also voluntarily limited the services that would be available at the Housing Services Center.

Under the proposal, the center would not have an emergency food pantry, clothes closet, showers, or scheduled visits for a mobile medical unit.

The coalition also agreed to other conditions.

Four to eight families would be housed temporarily, but no more than 36 people would stay at the shelter at any one time. The coalition estimates helping a minimum of 50 families annually.

Background checks would be done. There would be security cameras, and a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Also, coalition staff members would be on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Families could stay no longer than 180 days.

The goal, coalition officials said, would be for families to stay 30 days to 60 days, with most being placed in housing within 45 days.

“This is something that is very realistic,” said Don Anderson, chief executive officer of the homeless coalition.

Area residents remain skeptical.

Judith Bowes lives in the nearby subdivision of The Orchards of Radcliffe. She said more than 70 widows live there.

“They were scared. They had a lot of sleepless nights,” Bowes said. “The shelter that will house six to eight families is not the problem. The problem is (the Housing Services Center) will bring a lot of transients into the neighborhood. My neighbors are still having sleepless nights.”

But, Amina Ahmed said it made her sad to hear people making assumptions about people who are homeless.

“Not all of them are criminals,” Ahmed said. “People think if you’re homeless, you have to have a problem, which is not true. Let’s help people become valuable members of society.”

Attorney Robert Lincoln, who represents the owners of an adjacent shopping plaza, also spoke in favor of the coalition’s efforts.

The owners had found fault with the original plan but support the new direction, Lincoln said.

He said that eliminating such services as showers, medical care and clothes makes a difference.

“You take away those kinds of things, you take away the kinds of services that get people wandering in off the street,” Lincoln said.

Plus, he noted: “It’s much better to be working with (the coalition) and becoming engaged.”

Published June 13, 2018

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Amina Ahmed, Boys & Girls Club, Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, Crane's Roos, Don Anderson, Housing Services Center, Judith Bowes, Little Road, Pasco County Planning Commission, Port Richey, Robert Lincoln, Suzanne Greene Taldone, The Orchards of Radcliffe, Youth Lane

Proposed homeless shelter for families stirs passions

May 23, 2018 By Kathy Steele

Efforts to aid Pasco County’s homeless population are shifting from a homeless shelter for single adults to a shelter for families only.

The goal is to place homeless families in permanent housing as soon as possible. That is a significant change from the initial focus one year ago on a “navigation center” with wraparound services for single men and women.

The effort now has a new name, too. It’s no longer being called a navigation center. Instead, it will be called the Housing Services Center.

Whatever it is called, some area residents still don’t want any shelter in their neighborhood. Others are unhappy with the change in focus.

Don Anderson, chief executive officer of The Homeless Coalition of Pasco County (File)

And, some are ready to welcome the shelter as a first step in the right direction.

About 100 people attended a public meeting on May 16 in New Port Richey to learn more about the new concept, and to offer comments.

Cathy Pearson, Pasco’s assistant county administrator for public services, and Don Anderson, chief executive officer of The Homeless Coalition of Pasco County, led the discussion.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey also attended.

She said she came to listen and learn. “This is not a subject I know a lot about,” she said.

Anderson defended the decision to operate a families-only shelter.

“We believe families are highly motivated to get into housing because of the number of children,” said Anderson.

The shift also would save the expense of hiring 24/7 security guards, he said.

The goal would be to place families in permanent housing within 30 to 60 days, with an average stay at the shelter around 45 days.

An additional six to 12 months of services would be provided after families leave the shelter.

Families are defined as one or two adults, with at least one child under age 18.

A year ago, another public meeting was held to discuss the initial proposal for a homeless shelter for adults.

“We felt it was time to update our citizens,” Pearson said.

The shelter, if approved, would be housed in one of two buildings at 8239 Youth Lane, off Little Road in Port Richey. The second building would become the offices of the homeless coalition, which currently operates in a mixed residential and commercial neighborhood on Pine Street.

The Youth Lane address formerly was home to the Boys & Girls Club, which vacated the site in 2016.

The updated presentation included a video and a power point slide show. As many as 70 social service agencies and organizations are partners with the homeless coalition, and support the Youth Lane shelter.

Passions ran high
More than 40 people spoke during public comment.

Opponents who live near the shelter site said they worry about increases in crime and a loss of property values.

Ann Archer Corona found it troubling that the shelter plan seems to change “minute-to-minute. We all feel threatened. I find it to be a big threat.”

She said housing values would drop significantly, if the shelter was to open.

Some who supported the initial plan to aid single men and women objected to the new focus on families.

“We are losing out on all those opportunities for the chronically homeless who are at risk of dying on the street,” said Kassie Hutchinson. “We’re ignoring a huge part of our population. Once again, we’re reneging on something we promised.”

Anderson said the coalition and its partners planned to increase outreach efforts for homeless adults. While no single adults could stay at the shelter, he said efforts would be made to find housing resources for them. But, he added, “There are limits to what we can do.”

A two-building campus on Youth Lane in Port Richey is the proposed site for a homeless shelter for families.

Pearson said it is still a goal in the future to fund a homeless shelter for single adults. “They won’t be forgotten,” she said.

Other members of the audience supported the new concept as a step in the right direction.

“Housing is the only known cure for homelessness,” said Daniel McDonald.

Every homeless person is someone’s son or daughter, sister or brother, he said. Leaving people homeless, he added, costs taxpayers money for providing public services.

“This (the shelter) is a bargain for taxpayers,” McDonald said. “It’s money well spent.”

The homeless coalition’s new proposal also found support from a once skeptical source – owners of an adjacent retail plaza, anchored by Hobby Lobby.

Sarasota attorney Robert Lincoln, who represents the shopping center’s owners, said, “We’ve been concerned about the project since it started moving forward last year.”

The budget for the initial plan didn’t seem adequate, and the space at the site too small to handle up to 75 adult men and women, Lincoln said.

Housing families seems to address most issues, including public safety, he said. “We’re continuing to work with the leadership (at the homeless coalition) to make sure we know who the families are,” Lincoln said. “They have been very responsive. We will continue to work with them.”

Starkey said the county should be compassionate but also tough on some issues, such as panhandling.

“I have to bring a hammer and I have to bring a heart,” she said.

Anderson said the cost to remodel the two buildings on campus would be about $700,000. The coalition has about $680,000 from a federal neighborhood grant, with an additional $100,000 from Pasco County’s United Way.

Annually operating costs are estimated at about $350,000. All but $145,000 is already funded, Anderson said.

Additional grants and private donations will be sought, he added.

The Pasco County Housing Authority has pledged 50 housing vouchers, which can be used anywhere in the county as part of the Section 8 housing program.

Pasco has about 2,600 homeless people, based on the most recent count. More than 700 are individuals, with more than 1,800 in family relationships.

Shandi Vargas was among a handful of people who put a face to the plight of Pasco’s homeless population. She escaped an abusive marriage, but ended up homeless. She currently lives in a rented room and has found an internship.

She is working toward living again with her three children.

“I’m a single mom trying to fight for her children,” Vargas said.

A homeless shelter for families probably would have kept her family intact, she said.

Even as she struggles with her own situation, Vargas said she volunteers to help other homeless people, and people at risk.

“Let us come together and figure out a solution, and stop thinking all homeless are criminals,” she said.

The Pasco County Planning Commission, which makes recommendations on land use issues, will review the proposal on June 6 in New Port Richey.

The final decision is up to the county commissioners, who will hold a public hearing on the matter June 19, also in New Port Richey.

Published May 23, 2018

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Ann Archer Corona, Boys & Girls Club, Cathy Pearson, Daniel McDonald, Don Anderson, Hobby Lobby, Housing Services Center, Kassie Hutchinson, Kathryn Starkey, Little Road, Pasco County Housing Authority, Pasco County Planning Commission, Pasco County United Way, Port Richey, Robert Lincoln, Shandi Vargas, The Homless Coalition of Pasco County, Youth Lane

Homeless shelter to help families find housing

May 2, 2018 By Kathy Steele

A “one-stop navigation center” for the homeless population in Pasco County will provide temporary shelter for families, instead of the initial plan to help single adult men and women.

If opened, the center would be Pasco’s first homeless shelter.

An estimated $100,000 annual cost for around-the-clock security at the facility and neighborhood opposition to the original plan prompted the shift in the shelter’s purpose.

A public meeting in 2017 to discuss a proposed homeless shelter drew a large, impassioned crowd. (File)

“We realized the need was great for families, and we will have more funding (opportunities) for families,” said Don Anderson, chief executive officer for the Homeless Coalition of Pasco County.

A public meeting to discuss the new concept will be held May 16 at 6 p.m., at the Pasco County Commission board room in New Port Richey. Additional outreach to residents in nearby neighborhoods also is planned.

Commissioners voted on April 24 to continue the public hearing for a conditional use permit for the facility until June 19.

That will allow time to amend the coalition’s application, and to hear from area residents.

Commissioners have been supportive of the project, and previously approved funding to remodel the center.

Commissioner Jack Mariano, however, has been critical of the county’s choice of location.

Residents from Crane’s Roost, a neighborhood of about 90 homes, off Little Road, said the homeless population needs help, but they think the proposed location is wrong.

They worry about increased solicitations, crime and lowered property values.

Business owners at Ridge Plaza, adjacent to the Youth Lane site, have objected, too.

The commission’s boardroom was packed during the public hearing in 2017, with people equally passionate on both sides of the issue.

A former Boys & Girls Club in New Port Richey is being proposed as a temporary shelter for homeless families.

Advocates for the center point to its location near bus stops, government offices and service agencies as a good fit to help people in need. They also say Pasco County has been unresponsive in the past in meeting the needs of its homeless population, which at times has been counted as high as 3,000 people.

The center would operate at the two-building campus formerly leased by the county to the Boys & Girls Club, at the end of Youth Lane, off Little Road.

Under the initial concept, the goal was to house 50 to 75 homeless adult men and women for an average of 90 days at the navigation center. They would receive help in locating housing, jobs, job training and health care.

A survey by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office found about 100 homeless camps throughout the county. The initiative would focus on one camp at a time.

Under the new plan, the coalition’s “housing first” program would provide temporary shelter to families for 30 days to 60 days.

Anderson said an average stay could be 45 days or less. He anticipates housing about four families to six families at a time.

The coalition’s administrative offices would operate from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. People would receive help with job training, showers, health care, behavioral health care, case management, resume building and financial literacy.

The only food services provided would be to families staying at the center.

The people who are served at the coalition’s location on Pine Street are polite and respectful, Anderson said.

“They are really looking for services that can help them get out of their situation,” he said.

Anderson said he was hopeful that the new direction for the navigation center will be well-received.

“We really want to take advantage of their (the county’s) willingness to do something in the community for the homeless,” Anderson said.

Published May 2, 2018

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Boys & Girls Club, Crane's Roost, Don Anderson, Homeless Coalition of Pasco County, Jack Mariano, Little Road, Pasco County Commission, Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Pine Street, Ridge Plaza, Youth Lane

Homeless Coalition CEO understands tough times

January 17, 2018 By B.C. Manion

Don Anderson, the new chief executive officer for The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, doesn’t have to look far to understand what it’s like to experience poverty.

“I come from very humble beginnings. My dad didn’t finish eighth grade. My mom didn’t finish high school. He worked three jobs.

“We had a hard time keeping a car going, let alone pay the rent every month.

Don Anderson is the new chief executive officer for The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County. Many people are just a medical issue, a car accident, a car problem or a few paychecks away from homelessness, he said. (B.C. Manion)

“I remember sitting around the table with them at the end of every month, deciding who it is that we would not pay, so we could pay the rent every month.

“We relied on the church and food stamps, and just the generosity of others,” Anderson said.

And, he knows his experiences are far more common than people think.

For many — just a single incident such as a medical issue, a car accident, a car breaking down or the loss of a job — can push them into homelessness, he said. That’s particularly true in communities, such as Pasco County, where much of the workforce receives minimum wage earnings from service industry jobs, he added.

While Anderson’s background didn’t prevent him from landing work with technology companies, he said he experienced his share of ups and downs through the years.

At one point, at the encouragement of one of his customers, he volunteered for Metropolitan Ministries. Later, when he was in his 50s, he got a job there.

A couple of years ago, he went to work for Youth and Family Alternatives in Pasco, where he was the vice president of strategy and development.

He said he sought his current post because he wanted an opportunity to take on a greater leadership role.

Being new to that post, Anderson said he has much to learn. He plans to do a lot of listening, and a lot of reaching out.

He said he wants to make internal improvements to the organization he’s leading, but also wants to forge stronger relationships with people in the community who may have felt alienated in the past.

One of the biggest developments on the horizon is the effort to open Pasco County’s first homeless shelter as part of a comprehensive plan to help the county’s homeless population.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has estimated there are about 100 camps across Pasco County where people live.

The chosen location for what is proposed as a “one-stop navigation center” is in two county-owned buildings in west Pasco, formerly leased to the Boys & Girls Club.

A planning commission meeting is scheduled for next month, regarding the conditional use of the property, and then the issue will go to the Pasco County Commission for a vote, Anderson said.

The project has met resistance from area residents.

Anderson said he planned to attend a meeting with neighbors. He said his goal is to “understand their concerns and then address them, as best as we can.”

Many of the details for the Navigation Center have not been worked out yet — such as how many beds the center will have — so conversations will need to continue as more information becomes available, he said.

There also is a host of challenges facing the homeless in Pasco County, he said. For one thing, there needs to be designated places where the homeless can go for shelter when temperatures plummet, he said.

There is some assistance available through partner organizations, but generally that is simply helping people in need to find motel rooms, said Anderson, noting the coalition pays for those rooms.

The Homeless Coalition, established in 1988, is a network of individuals and organizations working together to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness.

Published January 17, 2018

Filed Under: Local News, People Profiles Tagged With: Boys & Girls Club, Don Anderson, Metropolitan Ministries, Pasco County Commission, Pasco County Sheriff's Office, The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, Youth and Family Alternatives

Navigation center gets funds; location upsets residents

August 30, 2017 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commissioners agreed to disperse federal funds for a navigation center that will work with the homeless population to find permanent housing, health care and jobs.

About $250,000 will be used to remodel the former Boys & Girls Club buildings on Youth Lane in Port Richey. Approximately $70,000 will be used to hire a staff member, possibly a program specialist, for the homeless program for adult men and women only.

Commissioners approved the funds at their Aug. 15 meeting in Dade City.

Pasco County officials want to remodel the Boys & Girls Club on Youth Lane in Port Richey for a navigation center to help the homeless population. (File)

Their vote came after a nearly two-hour public comment period where county commissioners heard from supporters and opponents.

It is the location, more than the concept, which is at the heart of the dispute. The county proposes to reopen the two-building campus at the end of Youth Lane, off Little Road. The site is adjacent to Ridge Plaza, which is anchored by Hobby Lobby and a Walmart Neighborhood Supermarket.

Crane’s Roost, a subdivision of about 90 homes, is on the opposite side of Little Road.

Residents say the navigation center will hurt property values, increase crime, and make them less safe.

“Our fears are not unfounded. We do have the right to feel safe in our communities,” said Valerie Schaefer, who has lived in Crane’s Roost about 20 years.

Advocates for the center say Pasco has been too slow in responding to the needs of more than 3,000 homeless people who live on the streets, in vehicles and within about 100 encampments across the county.

The Youth Lane site is located by bus stops, government offices and agencies that can provide needed services.

“A lot of them need help with jobs and help with moving on, on their own,” said Raine Johns, chief executive officer of the Homeless Coalition of Pasco County. “It has to be somewhere in the county. This is the perfect location for it.”

The coalition is slated to operate the center. County commissioners will be asked at a later day to transfer the site’s property deed to the coalition.

The goal is to relocate homeless people, one camp at a time. Adult men and women would temporarily live at a “low-barrier” shelter while case managers work to assess their needs, and find permanent housing.

Families wouldn’t be eligible.

Johns estimates average stays of 90 days or less.

The navigation center is expected to open by mid-2018.

Published August 30, 2017

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Boys & Girls Club, Crane's Roost, Dade City, Hobby Lobby, Homeless Coalition of Pasco County, Little Road, Port Richey, Raine Johns, Ridge Plaza, Valerie Schaefer, Walmart, Youth Lane

Dade City Youth Council wins statewide photo contest

August 9, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

Reyes Figueroa loves Dade City.

And, he appreciates the east Pasco community’s acceptance in celebrating diverse cultures — particularly his Hispanic heritage.

Last month, the 17-year-old Pasco High School junior and Dade City Youth Council delegate won first place in the Florida League of Cities’ (FLC) Youth Council Photography Contest.

Figueroa’s winning photo, ‘Cinco De Mayo Parade,’ was taken during the city’s Cinco de Mayo Parade & Fiesta, held annually at Resurrection Park. The image, captured on his iPhone, shows a youth folk dance troupe posing in traditional Mexican-style clothing. (Courtesy of Reyes Figueroa)

The winning photo, “Cinco De Mayo Parade,” was taken during the city’s Cinco de Mayo Parade & Fiesta, held annually at Resurrection Park. Captured on Figueroa’s iPhone, the image exhibits a youth folk dance troupe posing in traditional Mexican-style clothing.

Figueroa was humbled when he learned about the first place honor. “I was kind of surprised,” he said.

The Florida League of Cities’ photography contest encouraged youth council members throughout the state to take a picture of something that tells the story of why they love their city. Each photo had to be the applicant’s original work and accompanied by a brief statement of how that photo depicts the reason they love their city.

In his statement, Figueroa wrote, “I love Dade City because it has, and continues to, hold this event (Cinco De Mayo Parade) each year that is close to my people’s tradition.”

Figueroa, on behalf of the Dade City Youth Council, will receive a trophy and $300 reward at the Florida League of Cities’ annual conference on Aug. 19 in Orlando.

He also will be featured in the League’s statewide publication, Quality Cities (QC) magazine; and have the win presented on the organization’s website and Facebook and Twitter accounts.

It’s not the first time the Dade City Youth Council, which has roughly 10 members, has been recognized by the League.

Last year, the youth organization finished fourth place in the fifth annual Municipal Youth Council Video Competition.

Reyes Figueroa won first place in the Florida League of Cities’ (FLC) Youth Council Photography Contest. The 17-year-old Dade City Youth Council delegate is a junior at Pasco High School. (Kevin Weiss)

The 60-second video, “Dade City: The Place to Be,” spotlighted the city’s distinct offerings, from bike trails to downtown shopping, and festivals and events.

Dade City’s Cinco de Mayo Parade, meanwhile, draws hundreds of patrons each year, to celebrate the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the 1862 Battle of Puebla.

The vibrant event on Lock Street, is highlighted by dancing, singing, games and traditional Mexican-style dishes.

Figueroa said he has attended the parade, with family and friends, for well over a decade.

The teenager noted the event’s food is a big hit.

“It would probably have to be No. 1,” Figuero said.

But, there are also “really cool” activities, like rock climbing and pickup soccer matches, he added.

“You always have different things coming up,” he said. “I like how they contribute something new every year.”

Figueroa has been a member of the Dade City Youth Council since he was in sixth grade and was recommended for a delegate position by Margarita Romo, who runs the Resurrection House Mission Lutheran Church.

The youth council, which was formed by Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez, devotes a bulk of its time to volunteer service and community enhancement projects.

Some of its more recent initiatives include organizing the city’s Movie in the Park series, and the Kumquat Festival 5K.

“The Dade City Youth Council gives us opportunities to create events that an individual teen, like me, wouldn’t be able to do by himself,” Figueroa explained. “Having some support from Camille and commissioners, and different sponsors, that helps a lot,” he added.

Members of the youth council also have a chance to gain insight into how the municipality interacts with the Florida Legislature and sometimes are able to travel to partake in meetings in Tallahassee.

Besides youth council, Figueroa is junior class president at Pasco High. He also plays in the East Pasco Soccer League.

After high school, Figueroa hopes to attend either Florida State University or Saint Leo University. He aspires to work in construction, architecture or engineering.

Whatever career path he follows, he’s adamant to stay involved in community affairs.

“It’s kind of tough because there’s so many things to do. I kind of want to have a career where I’m stable, but gives me the flexibility to volunteer in my community,” he explained.

Since living in Dade City, Figueroa said he’s noticed positive initiatives within in the community. He pointed to new sidewalks (the northern extension of the existing Hardy Trail) and repaved roads from Church Avenue to Lock Street as a few of the city’s upgrades. He’s also passionate about the number of groups that serve the community’s youth, mentioning the Boys & Girls Club and the now-reopened Moore-Mickens Education and Vocational Center.

Elsewhere, Figueroa is one of 12 recipients of the Marguerite Casey Foundation’s Sargent Shriver Youth Warriors Against Poverty Leadership Award.

The award honors youth who exhibit “vision, passion and dedication to improving the lives of families in their communities.”

He will be presented with the $5,000 award on Aug. 13, in Seattle, Washington.

Published August 9, 2017

Filed Under: Local News, Zephyrhills/East Pasco News Tagged With: Boys & Girls Club, Camille Hernandez, Church Avenue, Dade City, Dade City Youth Council, East Pasco Soccer League, Florida League of Cities, Florida State University, Hardy Trail, Kumquat Festival, Lock Street, Margarita Romo, Marguerite Casey Foundation, Moore-Mickens Education and Vocational Center, Pasco High School, Quality Cities, Resurrection House Mission Lutheran Church, Resurrection Park, Reyes Figueroa, Saint Leo University

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