REAP Lodges Closing

We received word today from REAP that the Lodges shelter is closing iminently.  

From REAP's email to Liz Kissell, Connie Bookman, and Allison Patton:

"Ladies: I wanted to make you aware of some imminent changes in the REAP program: we are in the process of closing down the Lodges Emergency Shelter as quickly as possible. We expect to be able to relocate all of the women and children presently residing at The Lodges to other REAP facilities, with the majority moving to the Max-Well Respite Center during the next week. While this is disappointing to the REAP team, we have determined that the continued operation at The Lodges can only be accomplished with additional sources of revenue other than that received over the past 27 months of operation. REAP has been unsuccessful in solidifying this needed funding. REAP team members and its Board of Directors remain committed to our mission of addressing the needs of marginalized, less fortunate individuals and those returning from incarceration, helping them to become self-sufficient and productive citizens and neighbors. We will continue our work in this regard. 

Vinnie Whibbs"  

REAP Lodges Closing Permanently in less than One Month? In Two Weeks???

An email blast was sent out early Monday morning to County Commissioners and a host of others about the REAP Lodges facility's imminent closure due to funding constraints.

This is an unfortunate turn of events if it is, indeed, true.

My understanding was that REAP had secured ample additional funding and also was working toward its own organic fundraising which would propel it toward self-sufficiency.  Apparently, this is not the case.  My email to Mr. Whibbs:  

"Mr. Whibbs- I lament this development, as I know you have tried diligently to assist with our issues of the homeless and associated matters.  I was under the impression you had secured funding for REAP lodges through the city and the COC.  I will ask about this at our upcoming meeting because I know what you do to assist in this space is critical to our overall strategy of homeless reduction."

to which he responded, succinctly, "Thank you for anything you can do. Vinnie"

With respect to the vexing topic of eliminating/reducing homelessness locally--we need more folks on the front lines helping--NOT fewer.  More to come Wednesday at our 9:00 AM meeting ---  as I will be adding this as a topic for discussion on our agenda.  Read the letter Whibbs sent this morning, below.

 

Homeless "Encampments" Popping Up all over the County--Citizens NOT Happy About it

The "shanty-town" (pictured 2-1-23) homeless encampment groing on Mobile Hwy at Michigan Avenue in Escambia County is drawing the ire of citizens that want something done to clean it up......

"Is this what we want visitors to Escambia County to see at the first exit coming off the bridge into our area?"  The caller asked dryly.  And angrily.

He's obviously fed up with what he is seeing in his neighborhood off of Scenic Highway where, right next to the Dairy Queen/Gas station off of the exit and very near dozens of multi-million dollar homes and properties, there is a fledgling pop-up encampment growing right off the side of the road. 

"They are so brazen, they have even brought a couch and placed it right on the side of the road on Scenic Highway--they are sitting on it and eye-balling us as we sit in traffic--it's ridiculous!"

He is heated.  He wants action, he wants this blight to be addressed by the county.  He is not alone, either,  because we have had multiple issues come up over the last year or so, and this issue seems to be growing, not subsiding....

Like issues in my district where we had a massive forest fire erupt that could have taken out an entire subdivision off of Hwy 98 due to a campfire in a homeless camp getting out of control in the adjacent wooded property.

Like what the city dealt with under the I-110 bridge where drug use, crime, theft, prostitution, and other illicit activity was rampant until the city disbursed that campground.

Like what we are seeing on Herman Street....Like what we saw under the bridge on Brent Lane... 

And like what we are now seeing in an area off of Mobile Hwy (Formerly D1, now D3)  Where a group of about 9 homeless individuals have sent up a miniature "shanty-town" right in the FDOT easement of Mobile Hwy------directly in front of the Publix Grocery store there and multiple small businesses.  I have had numerous complaints about this from multiple citizens.

Something has to be done.  This isn't Portland, this isn't Seattle nor is it San Franscisco.  And we don't

Life Threatening Cold Temperatures Coming--Where are Escambia's Cold Weather Shelters?

If your're down on your luck and unsheltered in Escambia County--where can you go to get out of this dangerous cold weather that is fast approaching?

I've been contacted by some individuals concerning the upcoming historically low temperatures and wind chills expected over the next several days.

Some are very concerned about those who are unsheltered.  I am too.

So with expected life-threatening cold temperatures coming beginning Thursday evening--where can someone go in Escambia County to escape these dangerous conditions overnight?

Some have suggested opening the Bay Center --however that seems like a long-shot although I have asked about it.

Meanwhile, I am told that citizens can call 2-1-1 to find a shelter.

I've also been told that The Alfred Washburn Center, the Waterfront Rescue Mission, and the Maxwell Respite Center of REAP will all be opening Thursday evening with expanded capacity to assist with providing cold weather shelters for the homeless.

However I'm hearing from some intimately familiar that "Maxwell is not taking anyone even though there's room for 50 more--and Alfred Washburn has no inside facilities, and Waterfront has recently refused a couple that didn't have the $10 cover charge.  I'm now also told by someone who knows that the Alfred Washburn Center will NOT be a shelter.

So I'm concerned when the temps hit the teens and the wind chills are in single digits in the next 72 hours--folks might be desperate.

I'm just worried folks won't know where to go because it was not mentioned in the county's press release yesterday.

Knowing what I know about the numbers of homeless individuals in the county (nobody knows and can tell me what the real count is)--I worry some will not know where to go.  I'm worried cold weather like this could result in death.

So later this morning I am going to speak with staff to see if we can't provide additional cold weather capacity with (some?) county facility.  Why can't we do this and work with Red Cross to staff it?

Now's the time to get ahead of this, before someone dies of hypothermia.

What's going on at the Homeless Camp(s) being funded by the City?

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.