Veterans Park to Host Tent City for Homeless

Crossroads Community Outreach, Room in the Inn & Sunrise Center Executive Directors came up with a great proposal that was presented to the homeless care council & approved by the mayor, city council in coordination with FPD & Florence Park & Rec. The ladies worked out the logistics (see attached) & It is now in full effect.

Crossroads Community Outreach is the only full time day center that the homeless will go to during the day for showers, clothing & connection to other services like assistance with housing, employment & applications to other available benefits & services.

Room at the Table & other churches & community members are helping the agencies coordinate to-go meals & sack lunches.

Tents, sleeping bags, supplies etc is coordinated by the agencies.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Ashley Smith <hccnwal@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 25, 2020, 3:13 PM
Subject: RE: Proposal
To: Room in the Inn Shoals <roomintheinnshoals@gmail.com>, Dale Cohen <dcohen@umcna.org>
Cc: <crossroadsagencyllc@gmail.com>, Courtney Mckinnon <SunriseCenterSheffield@gmail.com>

Hello all,

Great news. The Mayor and City Council have approved this proposal.  The old campgrounds at Veterans Park can be available for tents for the homeless, starting as early as today.

A few details:

This will last 2 weeks, from March 26-April 9 (they may go today, but official date is tomorrow, so that the 2 wks goes through April 9)

Tents will be provided by your agencies, the community, etc, as outlined in the proposal

The City will provide a dumpster at the location

The City will provide a few port a potties at the location

The showers are not functional

Lots of hand sanitizer needs to be provided!

A few questions we have:

Will food be provided? COORDINATED EFFORT THRU THE AGENCIES & COMMUNITY PARTNERS

How will the homeless guests get to the campground? CROSSROADS IS TRANSPORTING

As far as getting word out to the homeless population, I assume the best way is through your agencies and people. I am more than happy to also post on the HCC facebook page, or any other means of communication that would be helpful. Let’s keep this email thread open and going, so we know what steps happen next.

Great idea to do this. Please let me know what else I can do to help.

Ashley

Ashley Smith

Executive Director

Homeless Care Council of Northwest Alabama

Actual Photo of Camp - Florence Doing Something Right!