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If you received this issue of the Homeless Voice in your mailbox please go to pg 5 We have an Emergency! Part of the North American Street Newspaper Association
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Remembering the Queen...
Carol with her buddy John Sean Cononie
In this issue of the Homeless Voice newspaper you will read a story titled, “Long Live the Queen.” On October 22, 2012 the queen died. However the queen is still living. Our beloved Carol Massed is now living in heaven with our and her best friend Johnny McCormick. She knew there was life after death and many people reminded her that she needed to ask for forgiveness. In fact when I would see her in hospice I would say to her Carol are you talking to Jesus and asking for forgiveness for your sins. More than once
she said “what for, I did not do anything wrong?” Then would that I surprised her by sending for her daughter who smile and say, “yes Sean.” That day as she was being translived in California. When I called her and told her ported by private ambulance from the hospice center to our that her mom was getting ready to be put in hospice hospice suite she finally gave out. and death was near and she should be here I offered This was a woman who had many things wrong with her to pay her way because I knew Carol would want to however you would not know it by her strength, her ability see her. Her Tonya came within the next 24 hours. to function, and her ability to drive me crazy. She would call The next moment I will not forget is that when I herself an old goat but one that would kick your butt. And she would go to visit her in Hospice waiting for the all did kick my butt at times by hitting me with her cane. Then a clear to bring her home back to the shelter I would get few weeks later if I was in need of back up in dealing with a right in her weak little face and say to her, “Carol you violent client she was there and would jump in front of me and were never homeless, you lived with me and I love offer to hit the person with her cane. Carol would get in her you so much, she would see the tears in my eyes and mood because of mental illness. She would tell me and others say back to me, I love you too Sean. The last final off, hit us at times, get so mad and scream at me and at times moment of the service I called for a vote to change she would also do just the opposite of what the name of one of our properties I told her she needed to do. She was hard to from COSAC CITY to the new get along with and at the same time be your Our beloved Carol Massed Carol Massed Campus…. “All in best friend, not just to me but to many others favor say Yes!” So on October who knew her and loved her. is now living in heaven with 23, 2012 Carols name will now In all the years I have done this I have only be part of history and her name seen friends and family come to a funeral our and her best friend will be known to others for being that was done here at the shelter, maybe such a beautiful person who we all three times. We have had about 50 funerloved. Johnny McCormick als that I can count on my fat little fingers. Carol, as you meet Jesus tell But on October 23, 2012 that unfortunate him we need His prayers but He past was changed to a much better situation. About 70 people knows that anyway. So maybe you can hang out showed up for Carol’s service. Not only from our population with Johnny and watch us from above and say some but former clients who made it and living on their own outside prayers yourself so we can function. Carol not just I of our shelter system. That was such a beautiful thing to see loved you, there were so many. I hope you know that former clients coming to honor the life of our Queen Bee Carol. even when I got mad at you, it meant I loved you and What shocked me even more than this was that Carol had I wanted you to do good. three case/social workers that worked for Broward County also CAROL WE ALL LOVED YOU SWEETIE come to give their respect. Wow, that meant the world to me. AND FOR EVER IN MY MIND YOU WILL BE To see these three come to her service meant two things. That THE QUEEN OF COSAC, QUEEN B, AND THE our Carol was loved and that the social workers who serviced DANCING QUEEN. ONE LAST THING, BE THE Carol did so not because it was their job, they honestly cared QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND HELP OTHERS FROM for Carol. ABOVE WHEN THEY NEED IT. The best moments of the last few weeks with Carol and I was
A look at homelessness one year after Tampa’s panhandling ban That doesn’t mean they have disappeared, she said. A 2011 survey in Hillsborough County counted nearly 18,000 A year has passed since the war on panhandling in people who fit the expanded definition of homeless, meaning Tampa was won, a year since most of the street begmany were crashing at friends’ and relatives’ homes or living gars — who had forced uncomfortable motorists to night to night in cheap hotels, shelters, cars or campgrounds. pretend-talk on cellphones and avoid eye contact — That’s an 80 percent increase from 2009, when the last survey abandoned the city’s street corners. was taken. At least they slipped out of the public’s consciousOf the 2011 total, 7,300 people were truly living on the streets, ness. Weikel said. Of those, 7 percent — roughly 500 people — said They never really went away. panhandling was their only source of income. Thursday will mark the first birthday of the panhanBegging, she said, is not something the needy want to do. dling ban in Tampa. It was passed to clear the streets “I believe panhandling is the last resort for homeless people,” of beggars who city officials said were creating a she said. “It’s not an easy job; it’s not an safety hazard for themselves and easy task. It’s a survival mechanism that drivers. Upon signing the ordinance into The face of homelessness helps them pay for a night at the Salvation Army, maybe buy some food or get their law, Mayor Bob Buckhorn said, has changed over the past clothes washed.” “Our medians had turned into the equivalent of Gilligan’s Island.” The face of homelessness has changed half-decade with high Lesa Weikel, spokeswoman for over the past half-decade, social advounemployment and a steady cates say, with high unemployment and the Homeless Coalition of Hillsdrum roll of foreclosures borough County, said an undera steady drum roll of foreclosures putting lying reason for the panhandling people on the streets who normally would ban was to get the homeless out not be there. of sight and out of mind by removing them from the Months before Tampa officials began discussing an ordistreets. nance, St. Petersburg banned panhandling. Tampa officials “What usually happens when a panhandling ban is believed many of the panhandlers from there came to Tampa, put into place,” she said, “is that homeless people bethough Weikel said there is no documentation to support that. come less visible.” As more homeless people begged for money in Tampa, more TBO.com
Alicia Valdes sells the Tampa Epoch on the corner of Dale Mabry Highway and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. -Chris Urso
people called to complain. The city began to look into ways to crack down on the practice. Tampa officials promised the effort would include not only a crackdown on soliciting money but also increased emphasis on providing services for the homeless. Pinellas County also pledged to address the needs of the homeless, and that county has made some progress in fulfilling that promise. Catholic Charities has set up Pinellas Hope, a tent city that provides shelter to 300 homeless people. The county has established Pinellas Safe Harbor, which offers temporary shelter to the homeless who recently got out of jail or prison. In Hillsborough County, some efforts are under way to provide transitional housing for the homeless.
Our Purpose: To Help the Homeless Learn How to Help Themselves
(Continued on pg 4)