Wednesday in the PNJ there was an article discussing multiple entities that the city has funded to help take care of Pensacola's homeless.
Several city council members weighed in suggesting the county needs to help fund these groups. One was reportedly running out of money, according to this article.
The BCC the next day decided to hold off on making firm decisions on any of this money we have allocated from ARPA for homeless inssue ($4.1 Million) ---until we can discuss all the issues in much more depth at an upcoming committee of the whole.
Later in the evening Tursday night, (1:17:10 of this video)several speakers showed up to our BCC regular meeting in order to speak to the homeless issues, and at the very end of the meeting some scathing allegations were leveled against some workers associated with these camps.
Allegations included the misallocation of funds, mistreatment of the homeless, allowing intoxicated adult males in a tent camp with children and women, and one now former employee of one of the city funded camps cried as she described homeless individuals being subject to a "shake down" for money and their EBT cards, random drug testing at all hours (including for children) as well as physical intimidation against her by folks associated with this camp.
Friday morning I spoke to an individual who was named by the speakers and I was sent a chilling recording between her and another individual with REAP---and it got heated as one person was fired.
Discussion/arguments centered around a missing $5,000 dollars and a missing receipt book. When the male voice asked about this five thousand, the female who was forced out said "that money is not REAP's it belongs to Fearless [community]"
"You're out...I want your keys and and I want you gone." the male voice said angrily.
"I want this all in writing" said the female in the recording.
the recording goes about 9 minutes and is a back and forth between the two with allegations being hurled back and forth. It's not a pleasant listen.
Meanwhile--I'm now hearing other allegations of misappropriated donated items somehow not being brought to the shelter facilities and one member of this group stashing items donated at her house "on Scenic" with a pool . What the heck?!?
Sounds like a disorganized, dysfunctional mess. And now they are running out of the hundreds of thousands the city gave them and they want the county's cash now?
Not for my vote, not until we get to the bottom of all these allegations and mismanagement/mistreatment.
Not until we figure out just exactly, precisely what is going on at these homeless camps/shelters being funded by the City Council and Mayor.
