WFTV Exposes $200K to House Homeless Goes Unused by Orange County

In another heartbreaking story about the local homeless crisis, WFTV exposed nearly $200,000 in federal funds awarded to Orange County to house the homeless went unused by County leaders while those suffering continue to be “left to die in the woods.”

Channel 9’s Lori Brown told the heart-wrenching story of two fellow residents struggling to get back on their feet. In this eye-opening investigative report, Brown also obtained records showing $197,000 in federal grant money left unused by Orange County by the deadline to use the funds.

County leaders blame a “complex and rigorous” Housing and Urban Development process, but this report reminds viewers about the lives stuck in the middle of this epidemic that must be solved by our leaders. Money was left on the table while homeless residents literally are left to die in the woods. With the level of our local homeless crisis, this is unacceptable.

Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs should have done more. This is not a new problem for our community and too many opportunities and funds are being squandered under her leadership. Mayor Jacobs is well aware of the crisis and there is no time for excuses at this point. Before these funds were received, there should have been a plan to ensure Orange County maximized every dollar. When a local county government is blaming government process for not spending money, it’s a bit ridiculous. It’s a shame Mayor Jacobs doesn’t appear to have the professional relationships with those in the federal government like she apparently has with local private interests connected to the Venues. Jacobs has never missed an opportunity to spend more money on the Venues in recent years.

In 2012, more than 10,000 Central Florida students were without a home when students returned to schools after summer break. That same year, Orange County’s Commission on Homlessness, co-chaired by Mayor Jacobs, recommended the commission “cease to exist.” It had spent more than half a million dollars when the memo about ceasing to exist went around and after years of of the Commission operating, three times as many people were without homes in Central Florida. The commission’s other co-chair was Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

Last summer, Mayor Jacobs also missed the mark on local homelessness in her state of Orange County address. Her brief mention of the homeless crisis said nothing more than her desire about “exploring new avenues” to help. She didn’t even mention all of the homeless children attending Orange County schools or how they deserve better.

Like many in our community, I have also spoken personally with Mayor Jacobs about the local homeless crisis. I’ve even offered Mayor Jacobs possible policy solutions on several occasions. There’s no shortage of residents who want to work together and help everyone in Orange County find a home off the streets. I’ve witnessed so many people dig deep into their own pockets to help solve a little piece of this very big problem. It’s a shame to see our County government leave critically needed funds on the table.

Be sure to check out WFTV’s Investigative report here.

Kelly A. Greene says:

January 2, 2015 at 1:25 pm

Good post. The area continues to fail the homeless and those who are on the brink of a housing crisis.
As high rise apartments for the economically well off dazzle the policy makers (See the Princeton, the Ivanhoe, the Steel House etc. ) affordable housing stock shrinks in this area. No city council person or the mayor talks about the devastation wrought by the Great Recession and the Banks to the middle class homeowners.
The City of Orlando continues to try to make changes about the edges that are really just about P.R. efforts concerning the issue of homelessness. December 15, 2014 Council meeting saw the approval of a no bid contract to a National Organization, Corporation for Supportive Housing. A cursory glance at the contract shows that for $250,000.00 annually, they will help hire a $150,000.00 a year consultant who will help identify 300 possible locations for the Downtown chronic homeless. Again I briefly glanced at the contract, but it seems to propose not one home less person will receive a dwelling (which tends to cutback on their homelessness dramatically,) but a consultant will get a great paycheck of $150,000.00 gross annually. $100,000 will be allocated to consultant support and can be billed out as high as $200.00 an hour.
This is the real tragedy. While the homeless need a roof over their heads our government chooses instead to provide a very good salary to one consultant.
We need to be doing a whole lot better.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply