St. Petersburg, FL

Rhonda Abbott, MA, CRC Manager of Veteran, Social & Homeless Services Phone: Fax: Internet research

2008 population: 245,314 Pop. density 4,162/sq. mi. 4 th largest city in Florida Founded sq. mi. – land 73.4 sq. mi. – water Nickname: The Sunshine City (also, “God’s Waiting Room” as 17% of population is over age 65)

No St. Petersburg child should be on the street. Those St. Petersburg residents who are temporarily homeless due to unemployment/financial downturn should have access to temporary shelter so long as they work to transition back to self sufficiency. Those St. Petersburg residents whose homelessness results from alcohol or drug addiction should have access to treatment and shelter, so long as they are willing to work to change their behavior and return to self sufficiency. Those St. Petersburg residents whose homelessness results from mental illness should have access to treatment and shelter with an effort to make them as self sufficient as possible. While addressing the homeless status of St. Petersburg residents, our city should not become a community that attracts homeless individuals from outside the city. In St. Petersburg, homelessness shall not be an excuse for allowing public behavior harmful to our community

2008 Nine court victories, two “without closure” Two years $2.3 million (?) Won court victories because the ordinances “were written so well”

PANHANDLING Downtown "no panhandling" zone. Panhandling also prohibited at/on: - Sidewalk cafes - Within 15 feet of an ATM or bank entrance - Bus stops - Bus transfer facility on Central Avenue - Public transportation vehicles - Private property (unless the property owner has given permission). -No aggressive panhandling anywhere in the City No panhandling between sunset and sunrise each day

SLEEPING IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY Section makes sleeping in or on any part of the right-of- way unlawful and requires, that if shelter space is available for a homeless individual, that individual must go to that shelter or they will be charged with violating the section. Section makes it unlawful to sleep in the right-of-way contiguous to residential property lines. If the individual moves from the location after being notified of the violation, he will not be charged with a violation.

TEMPORARY SHELTERS & PROPERTY IN RIGHT-OF-WAY Unlawful to place, use, or occupy a tent, hut, lean-to, shack or other temporary shelter on public property unless a permit has been issued by the City, or on private property unless the property owner has consented, and the individual complies with the City's Zoning Code (and Park permitting requirements, if necessary).

STORAGE OF PERSONAL PROPERTY ON PUBLIC PROPERTY Any items of personal property, including clothing, bedding, materials, equipment, furnishings, furniture, appliances, construction materials, or any items which are not designated to be used outdoors (except as specifically allowed in the St. Petersburg City Code) will not be allowed to be stored on public property, including public right-of-ways.

“We did it backwards” Service providers not organized Agencies went after funding but without organization “Continuum of Care money went “all over the place” Duplication of effort Lack of “captain of the ship” as in Denver Struggling with egos and turf wars

True partnership with law enforcement Homeless shelter on jail site – “transformative center” Enforce ordinances to reduce “feeders” One outreach team: One law enforcement officer, one social worker Behavior modification program “Soft hammer” approach Abbott reports directly to the mayor

Weekly downtown counts show approximately 50% drop in homeless visibility Downtown St. Pete undergoing renaissance. “Vibrant”

Copy Orlando ordinance against feedings. Orlando ordinance recently won court test. Review, refine to improve graduation rates Working on data systems to more accurately measure progress