September 30, 2024 • 5 mins
A new state law goes into effect today (Oct. 1) banning the homeless from sleeping in public spaces after dark. Agencies that serve the homeless have been rpeapring for the law. We speak with Maggie Rogers, CEO of the Pinellas HOPE and Tampa HOPE shelters.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gordon Bird here with Beyond the News. A new state
law that bans camping and sleeping in public goes into
effect in Florida October first. Cities and counties and agencies
public and private are scrambling to make sure there are
enough shelter beds to avoid arresting homeless people. Maggie Rogers
is the CEO of Panelas Hope as well as Tampa
(00:20):
Hope and Executive director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese
of Saint Petersburg, which operates both Panelas Hope and Tampa Hope.
Maggie Rogers, welcome to Beyond the News.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Well, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Well, let's start You've obviously been involved in this issue
for a long time as an organization, and let's start
with a quick recap of the scale of the services
and types of services that are provided by Panela's Hope
and Tampa Hope.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Sure, Panella's Hope right now has two hundred and fifty
five shelter beds, as well as on that campus one
hundred and fifty six apartments of permanent support of housing
for those that are moving from homelessness into their own apartment.
And then Tampa Hope currently has two hundred and thirty
four shelter beds. We're in the process of building a
(01:07):
community center on site and we will then increase by
another one hundred and seventeen beds in April of twenty
twenty five, so our capacity will go to about three
hundred and fifty one in April.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Now, is this in the works this expansion? Was this
in the works before this law got into the pipeline?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
It was. Yes. Penela's Hope recently expanded by another twenty
five beds in partnership with the City of Saint Petersburg,
and I believe anticipation because of this new House bill
that will be passed and then and Tampa Hope has
not yet increased, but planned to, and the reason behind
it is much to do with the need as well
(01:49):
as House Bill thirteen sixty five.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Back in March, you had forecast that the need for
the services you provide and other groups provide would increase
after what is then a bill in the legislature became law.
What what steps have you seen to take route in
the community over the past few months as organizations have
started to deal with and comprehend what the effects are
(02:17):
going to be as this law goes into effect.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Right, I think a lot of organizations, much like ours,
are spending more time doing outreach with the homeless on
the streets, making them aware of the of the you know,
what will happen come October. And also I think agencies
are looking at their capacity and how they're able to
increase capacity and serve more.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Are you seeing signs that there are more resources being
put on the table that we're not there before with
the urgency of the situation.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Surprisingly not as much as I had hoped. You know,
we have received some additional resources. Our partner city of
st Our, City of Tampa in or Hillsborough County has
been absolutely wonderful and you know, helping us expand beds.
And then in Panellas Hope City of Saint Pete has
you know, we expanded by another twenty five beds, and
(03:12):
Panelas Camp County just recently came out to visit us
because they too are interested in how they'll address this.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
What's your assessment of how ready Panelas and the Tampa
Bay Region, the region that you serve, are to handle
the implementation of this new law and the fallout from it.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Right, you know, I think that, you know, Panella's County
has a very strong outreach program, and so I think
that they're likely working diligently to address it the best
that they can with the limited resources that we all have.
I would say the same probably for Hillsborough. I think
there are some counties that are are a bit more
ahead of, you know, addressing this than others. We've had
(03:53):
numerous visits from counties across Florida interested in what we
do at Panela's Hope in Tampa Hope, as well as
communities across the country, and I think some are, you know,
maybe in a bit of a denial, but it's not
really going to happen, and so maybe don't think that
they have nearly the homeless problem that they do. And
so I think, you know, come October, we'll see it
(04:17):
will all come to light what is actually needed and
where folks are falling short.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
If anyone wants to help, volunteer or donate or be
part of the process, or needs the services of organizations
such as your own, such as Panilla's Hope and Tampa Hope,
how should they get in touch with you.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
They're always welcome to look at our website, which is
www dot c cd SP dot org and to help
us as this legislation takes effect, they can text Tampa
Hope or Penela's Hope two four four eight three four.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Thank you Rogers, CEO of Panilla's Hope and Tampa Hope,
Executive Director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg.
Thank you very much for joining us on beyond the News.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Thanks for having me
Gordon Bird here with Beyond the News. A new state
law that bans camping and sleeping in public goes into
effect in Florida October first. Cities and counties and agencies
public and private are scrambling to make sure there are
enough shelter beds to avoid arresting homeless people. Maggie Rogers
is the CEO of Panelas Hope as well as Tampa
(00:20):
Hope and Executive director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese
of Saint Petersburg, which operates both Panelas Hope and Tampa Hope.
Maggie Rogers, welcome to Beyond the News.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Well, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Well, let's start You've obviously been involved in this issue
for a long time as an organization, and let's start
with a quick recap of the scale of the services
and types of services that are provided by Panela's Hope
and Tampa Hope.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Sure, Panella's Hope right now has two hundred and fifty
five shelter beds, as well as on that campus one
hundred and fifty six apartments of permanent support of housing
for those that are moving from homelessness into their own apartment.
And then Tampa Hope currently has two hundred and thirty
four shelter beds. We're in the process of building a
(01:07):
community center on site and we will then increase by
another one hundred and seventeen beds in April of twenty
twenty five, so our capacity will go to about three
hundred and fifty one in April.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Now, is this in the works this expansion? Was this
in the works before this law got into the pipeline?
Speaker 2 (01:26):
It was. Yes. Penela's Hope recently expanded by another twenty
five beds in partnership with the City of Saint Petersburg,
and I believe anticipation because of this new House bill
that will be passed and then and Tampa Hope has
not yet increased, but planned to, and the reason behind
it is much to do with the need as well
(01:49):
as House Bill thirteen sixty five.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Back in March, you had forecast that the need for
the services you provide and other groups provide would increase
after what is then a bill in the legislature became law.
What what steps have you seen to take route in
the community over the past few months as organizations have
started to deal with and comprehend what the effects are
(02:17):
going to be as this law goes into effect.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
Right, I think a lot of organizations, much like ours,
are spending more time doing outreach with the homeless on
the streets, making them aware of the of the you know,
what will happen come October. And also I think agencies
are looking at their capacity and how they're able to
increase capacity and serve more.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Are you seeing signs that there are more resources being
put on the table that we're not there before with
the urgency of the situation.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Surprisingly not as much as I had hoped. You know,
we have received some additional resources. Our partner city of
st Our, City of Tampa in or Hillsborough County has
been absolutely wonderful and you know, helping us expand beds.
And then in Panellas Hope City of Saint Pete has
you know, we expanded by another twenty five beds, and
(03:12):
Panelas Camp County just recently came out to visit us
because they too are interested in how they'll address this.
Speaker 1 (03:19):
What's your assessment of how ready Panelas and the Tampa
Bay Region, the region that you serve, are to handle
the implementation of this new law and the fallout from it.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Right, you know, I think that, you know, Panella's County
has a very strong outreach program, and so I think
that they're likely working diligently to address it the best
that they can with the limited resources that we all have.
I would say the same probably for Hillsborough. I think
there are some counties that are are a bit more
ahead of, you know, addressing this than others. We've had
(03:53):
numerous visits from counties across Florida interested in what we
do at Panela's Hope in Tampa Hope, as well as
communities across the country, and I think some are, you know,
maybe in a bit of a denial, but it's not
really going to happen, and so maybe don't think that
they have nearly the homeless problem that they do. And
so I think, you know, come October, we'll see it
(04:17):
will all come to light what is actually needed and
where folks are falling short.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
If anyone wants to help, volunteer or donate or be
part of the process, or needs the services of organizations
such as your own, such as Panilla's Hope and Tampa Hope,
how should they get in touch with you.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
They're always welcome to look at our website, which is
www dot c cd SP dot org and to help
us as this legislation takes effect, they can text Tampa
Hope or Penela's Hope two four four eight three four.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
Thank you Rogers, CEO of Panilla's Hope and Tampa Hope,
Executive Director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg.
Thank you very much for joining us on beyond the News.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Thanks for having me
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