In Herald roundtable, officials target homelessness in Bradenton, Manatee County

BRADENTON -- Changing the public perception of who the homeless population really is in Manatee County, separating those who need help from those who abuse the system, and how to attack one issue at a time highlighted the Bradenton Herald's homeless summit on Friday.

Participants included a cross-section of those on the front lines of battling homelessness. Elected officials included Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston, Palmetto Vice Mayor Brian Williams and Manatee County Board of Commissioners Chair Betsy Benac.

Law enforcement officials included Palmetto Police Chief Scott Tyler and Bradenton Police Chief Mike Radzilowski. Business representatives were former Bradenton Downtown Development Authority Director Dave Gustafson and DDA board member Mike Carter. Those on the front lines included Turning Points Executive Director Adell Erozer and Salvation Army's Major Dwayne Durham and Program Director Julia Showers.

Some of the key challenges, all agreed, are lack of affordable housing; mental health and substance abuse treatment availability; and targeting those who want help. Erozer said one of the biggest things making an impact on the homeless in other communities are "housing first" initiatives.

"What we've done here is create a great network of services, but we haven't looked at what we can do to get people off the streets," said Erozer. "Shelters are over-capacity and they do not get people off the street. I'm looking for collaboration with those that can develop housing strategies."

The very term "affordable housing" has negative perceptions to the general public. So much so, that those trying to build low- to moderate-income housing prefer the term "workforce housing." Changing public perception, Erozer said, is accomplished by putting a legitimate face on the homeless.

Durham said policies at all levels of government need to be reviewed to create an environment for "people who do want to work and improve their situation," and address whether those policies "make it easier for you not to work."

Williams, who volunteers at his church's food bank, said they have had to cut back on the pantry's availability, but not necessarily due to an overwhelming need.

"Maybe 10-15 percent are homeless, but the big issue is we take the food out to their cars and they have a car full of food from hitting every pantry that is open," he said. "We need to have a way to monitor that and identify those folks who really need it. For all we know, they are trading all this food for other things."

Carter said downtown businesses are no strangers to the homeless population. Many, he said, are "kind people who cause no problems. But we experience trespass, property damage and our guests are often harassed. It's creating a divide between the business community and the homeless. We want to know what the appropriate thing is to do, but it's difficult when a certain demographic is abusing that situation by being aggressive, panhandling and making a living under the guise of being homeless."

Erozer said there is a system in place to document those who are in need of help, but she called for help in creating a database. By working together, homeless agencies could provide a list of 15 people at a time for housing assistance and financial aid, but it would take everyone working together to create that system.

Radzilowski said law enforcement can't "arrest the problem away. Our biggest problem are the ones who do have alcohol or drug issues and there are not enough services for them. If we do have to take law enforcement action, it's more expensive to the taxpayer, so we need more treatment centers to refer them to."

Poston agreed, noting, "In a short time, they are back on the streets because there is no long-term care involved."

Gustafson suggested creating a plan that takes into account the successes seen in other communities.

"What I love about this community is we roll up our sleeves and put our differences aside and work together as a team," he said.

Benac noted that there has been a plan in place for 10 years that has great ideas, "but for whatever reason can't be implemented. So how do we get past not being able to implement that plan?"

Poston and Erozer said times have changed since that plan was developed 10 years ago, and agreed with Gustafson that a new plan needs to focus on the county's challenges of today.

Friday's meeting was born from a common theme among many of the agencies involved that there is not enough communication and coordination to address the larger issues. Each agency largely works on its own niche in the community.

The biggest challenge remains funding for solutions. Galvano, who has been pushing more funding for homeless and mental health initiatives since taking office, said the legislative atmosphere may finally be taking a turn for the better.

Galvano said homelessness is a state issue, but acknowledged South Florida's increasing challenges as even those on the street migrate further south for better weather.

"It all begins at the community level, and I'll work with all of you in any way I can help to coordinate these efforts," he said. "We have to step up the funding for mental health treatment and alternatives to the judicial system, which is much more expensive to the taxpayer. We need to have these conversations at the state level like you are having locally. We can discuss policy issues based on what you tell us and I'll make that commitment right now."

Poston said it's important to not try solving the complicated homeless issue all at once, but "to bite off pieces, have a fluid plan and tackle one issue at a time."

Mark Young, Herald urban affairs reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7041 or follow him on Twitter@urbanmark2014.

This story was originally published November 13, 2015 at 4:07 PM with the headline "In Herald roundtable, officials target homelessness in Bradenton, Manatee County ."