In Tampa, a city battered by hurricanes, hope is often a scarce commodity. However, the City of Tampa's Homeless Outreach Team, now marking its third year, stands as a testament to community resilience. The team's commendable efforts have recently culminated in securing safe housing for a family of five, who found themselves homeless after severe weather ravaged their residence. According to a report by City of Tampa's official website, the Best family, with three children aged 3 to 7, had spent their life savings on temporary accommodations due to the hurricanes' destruction.
Harrison and Maranda Best, along with their sons Waylon, Roy, and Oliver, faced the ominous threat of homelessness following a confluence of misfortunes. After sustaining an injury, Harrison lost his job, further exacerbating their financial vulnerability. Yet, thanks to the intervention of the Homeless Outreach Team and Family Promise, a Tampa-based non-profit, the Best family's dire predicament took a turn for the better. Manuel Pelegri, Outreach Coordinator, played a key role in their recovery, guiding them towards stable housing and connecting them with Tampa’s Rental Assistance and Move-in Program (RMAP), which provided them with move-in assistance and a six-month rental subsidy, "Our city's Homeless Outreach Team exemplifies the compassion and collaboration that define Tampa's commitment to all its residents," Mayor Jane Castor was quoted as saying in the City of Tampa's announcement.
Family Promise's strategy involves a 90-day program tailored for families with school-age children, offering housing, support, case management, and financial planning advice. The program's director, Edwina Reddick, noted the significance of their work in keeping families together during times of crisis. "I do believe teamwork makes the dream work," Reddick expressed, as reported by the City of Tampa's website. "And that is what Family Promise and City of Tampa did for this family, and especially for those children. We made their dream of being in their own bed and their own bedroom come true."
Since its inception, the City's Homeless Outreach Team has permanently housed 224 households and remains dedicated to mitigating the effects of poverty and displacement. This fiscal year alone, they have housed nearly 110 and found shelter placement for 76 individuals. Their work is far from done, as nearly 700 people have been linked to services, including shelters, diversion/reunification assistance, and transportation aid, outlining the consistent stride towards addressing homelessness within the Tampa community.
