All talk, no action: Must be an election year

Ten months ago, I wrote a guest column for the Record on the status of the homeless in St Johns County. In it I noted a number of programs and plans that were proving successful in communities like ours all over the nation. I also noted the complete lack of leadership of city and county officials despite the huge costs to taxpayers for services this population uses, like emergency rooms and detention. Last year Mayor Boles convened a workshop on the homeless. Aside from endless discussion on law enforcement issues and an unfortunate cruel remark from the Mayor, what changed? The mayor hosted a pricey fundraiser on the Night of Lights and the city provided $45,000 for 30 donated mattresses to get the homeless off the streets for the holiday tourists.

Earlier this year PUSH (People United to Stop Homelessness) met with the city manager and discussed a roundtable of all the players, including the homeless, and nothing happened.

On May 14, 2008, Sheriff Shoar addressed a veterans group in Coquina Crossing publicized as a presentation on homeless veterans. He had absolutely nothing to report.

On May 15, 2008, the Emergency Services Homeless Coalition (ESHC) celebrated their ten year anniversary. It took me three weeks last year to obtain a copy of St Johns County’s 10 year plan to end homelessness. Don’t believe me? Try to find a copy on the SJC website. PUSH has posted it on their website: www.pushsjc.org

Even a cursory reading will indicate it is not a PLAN.

On Friday, June 20, 2008, the location of the perennially secret homeless shelter was revealed to the public, a group advertised as officials, agencies and concerned advocates. PUSH was not invited nor was the ESHC.

On June 25, 2008, Mayor Boles invited Philip Mangano, Director of the Interagency Council on Homelessness, to speak to officials and members of our community on successful homeless prevention programs. Although advertised on the front page of this paper, no time or location was given. The meeting was short noticed, closed and only involved a select few including the director of St Francis House, Flagler Hospital, the editor of this paper, the sheriff and the mayor. PUSH and most amazingly, the ESHC, lead homeless agency in this county, were not invited.

There are pros and cons to the new shelter. The Salvation Army Food Bank manager told me St Francis House will now be able to accept and store food adequately. Renee Morris, St Francis House director, cites office spaces for services like medical, dental and veterans. There is climate control and room for more beds and it is close to the numerous SR 207 camps, including the one where yet another homeless person’s remains were discovered on June 24, 2008. It will allow the police to warehouse downtown “undesirables” far from tourists’ eyes and pocketbooks and timely enough for the big 450^th celebrations. To be sure, this is an election year and pretty much everybody running will be on board for all kinds of reasons; leadership and compassion not necessarily among them.

Speaking of the big 450th, if we are so astoundingly proud of this historic and beautiful city, why can’t we remember the words of its namesake, quoted here by me ten months ago:

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.”

What does St Augustine look like?

PUSH meets monthly at the Galimore Center in St Augustine. We are an advocacy group for the homeless and work for collaboration of dignified and humane solutions from all stakeholders: government, religious, civic, business and private individuals. Notices of meetings are published in the St Augustine Record and all are welcome to attend. Visit www.pushsjc.org
and contact us.