Since the city of Tampa enacted a ban on panhandling late last year, there has been a concentrated effort on the part of different groups of citizens to do something significant to help the homeless.
Historically such social services are the domain of Hillsborough County. But after a proposed "tent city" homeless camp was rejected several years ago, the county has had little to show in terms of creating more beds for the increasing number of homeless. The total last year was calculated to be over 17,000, the highest number ever; part of the large increase stems from those who are "doubled-up," defined as individuals or families living with extended family, friends or other non-relatives due to economic hardship.
That's why several members of the Tampa City Council in the past year have advocated for the city to try to find available funds to do more, and there are now a couple of different groups researching how that might be accomplished.
Against that backdrop, the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County held its annual fundraising luncheon at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa on Thursday.
This article appears in Feb 23-29, 2012.