Council Member Kelly urges action on homeless problem

PHOTO COURTESY MUSEUM OF FLORIDA ART
Heart for the homeless — Volusia County Council Member Andy Kelly and his wife, Missy, attend the Dinner and Dancing Under the Stars party April 25 to celebrate equestrian-themed exhibits now on display at the Museum of Florida Art in DeLand. The event was at Harold and Rabel Parson's DeLand farm, Echo Ranch. In their free time, the Kellys care for a number of homeless people, working as volunteers visiting homeless camps and connecting the individuals who live in them with services that are available. Now, Council Member Kelly is urging Volusia County government to get involved.

Number of people on the streets increasing

By Al Everson
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Apr 30, 2009 - 8:52:17am

Alarmed by the rising numbers of homeless people in the western half of the county, Volusia County leaders say something must be done.

“There’s not a single person I have talked to that doesn’t recognize there is a need,” County Council Member Andy Kelly said.

Kelly urged his peers to consider how the county could help establish a center where the homeless, especially those newly displaced from their homes, can bathe, wash their clothes, eat a balanced meal, prepare résumés and seek work, as well as have temporary shelter.

The problem is growing, as more people lose their homes. There are many contributing factors: unemployment, underemployment, lack of sufficient savings, medical emergencies, and lack of a support network of family and friends.

These recently homeless people are not accustomed to living with no permanent address and without the comforts they previously took for granted.

“They don’t even know where to go to get help,” County Manager James Dinneen said.

While the Daytona Beach area has several private social-service agencies to help, there is relatively little help available in the DeLand and Deltona areas.

Freshman County Council Member Josh Wagner represents the greater Daytona Beach area. He said his constituents “would love” to see more services on the west side of the county, because the services attract the need.

“Everything’s in the Halifax area, which is good or bad,” Wagner said.

Dinneen said the county should seek a partnership with private social-service providers, rather than operating a homeless center.

He said the county could offer financial assistance, but the County Council should decide how much.

“For this to even be considered, I have to put something in the budget,” Dinneen said.

Other council members agreed something should be done, but not by county government alone.

“I do not believe it is a function we can take on,” County Council Vice Chair Joie Alexander said.

“I don’t want county government getting in that business of opening up a homeless shelter,” Council Member Pat Northey said.

She suggested the county work with organizations such as The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia.

Council Member Jack Hayman agreed. He questioned what private groups, including churches, are doing now.

“We’ve got whole towns living in the woods,” Hayman said.

Dinneen said he and Community Services Director Dave Byron will investigate possible public-private partnerships.

Neighborhood Center Executive Director Susan Clark confirmed West Volusia’s homelessness problem is getting attention. Her agency has, at most, about 30 emergency beds.

Under the auspices of the Volusia/Flagler Coalition for the Homeless, the West Volusia Working Task Force has been formed to discuss possible solutions. Clark agreed there is a dire shortage of help.

“There’s a lot of children involved in the process, and a lot of elderly,” Clark said. “The face of the homeless is changing.”

— al@beacononlinenews.com

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