It was with great dismay and sadness that I read the headline of the Charlotte Sun this week announcing that the Florida Legislature has voted to eliminate $2.3 million in homeless coalition funding over the next two years. At a time when the need is greatest, the legislature has turned its back on the most vulnerable and helpless, our state's homeless children.
To provide full disclosure, I am currently a Board member of the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition and the Immediate Past President. I have seen first hand our feeding program grow form serving 35 hot dinners a day back in 2008 to over 120 meals a day now. We consistently have a waiting list for families with children waiting for one of our four family units to open up in our Shelter so they don't have to live on a friend's couch, their car, or in a storage unit. Frankly, as we faced significant cuts from the federal government this past year, I don't know how we can replace the funds the Coalition received from the state of Florida. In 2011, the Charlotte County Homeless Coalition provided 660 individuals and families at its emergency shelter, 8,000 take home meals, as well as rent and utility bill payment assistance to 372 households.
I challenge any member of the Florida House or Senate, as well as Governor Scott, to click on the following link and watch Scott Pelley's report on 60 Minutes about the homeless children epidemic in Florida, and then look at themselves in the mirror and justify the cutting of homeless coalition funds. The one thing that is certain is that homeless coalitions across the state will be closing over the next two years resulting in more children going without food, clothing and a warm and safe place to sleep at night.
Where is the compassion in this latest form of conservatism?
