Homeless can't stay on St. Pete streets
Updated: Friday, 03 Jun 2011, 5:12 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 03 Jun 2011, 5:12 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 03 Jun 2011, 5:12 AM EDT
In the years since, things have changed, but Thursday the city signaled another milestone in an effort to stem the homeless problem in St. Petersburg.
"They will not be allowed to stay on the streets," said city councilman Bill Dudley.
The city will start to enforce ordinances that ban sleeping, reclining and keeping personal belongings on public property.
People will have the option of going to Safe Harbor, a Pinellas County facility opened in January that provides shelter for the homeless.
"We're going to be able to steer them in the direction where they can get the help so that's really great news," Dudley said.
But some of the homeless don't see it that way.
"Safe Harbor to me is another jail," said one homeless man in downtown St. Petersburg.
The man, who asked not to be identified, calls the laws hypocritical.
"I think it's really garbage because people with houses and families get to recline in the parks," he said.
Dudley says there's a difference.
"If you're sitting down and just enjoying the day that's totally different from laying down and taking all your stuff and stacking it up and sleeping," Dudley said.
This isn't welcome news for those who end their days sleeping either outside of City Hall, in Williams Park or at Mirror Lake in St. Pete. That said, another homeless man who also asked the be unidentified says this action by the city is long overdue.
"Boot 'em (the homeless) right in the butt," he said. "When you get stuck in a rut, it's hard to get out of the rut. But once you get out, boy you can take off running."
With enforcement coming in just a few days, some of the homeless confirm they're ready to run.
"I'm going to have to hide from the law," said another homeless man.
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