Pinellas Hope looks to expand

ST. PETERSBURG-- Pinellas Hope, the controversial outdoor shelter pitched as a temporary solution to the city's homeless problems, could soon expand to a sprawling, permanent, multi-service complex complete with classrooms and 80 efficiency apartments.

The complex would help more than 1,200 homeless people each year find housing and receive job training to help them get back on their feet, said Frank Murphy, president of Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg, which runs and owns the tent city.

The apartments and classrooms would sit next to the 10-acre tent city, which is located in an industrial area off 49th Street on 126th Avenue in unincorporated Pinellas County. The tents would remain open.

At least $3-million in construction costs would be paid for through a state grant. But to qualify for that program, Catholic Charities must first secure $1-million in local government funding by May 27.

Murphy said he began discussing the expansion with officials from Pinellas, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Largo earlier this month.

St. Petersburg officials lauded the effort this morning during a Housing Services Committee meeting and City Council members tentatively pledged to allocate $290,934 toward the project.

"It has been a very successful project and we hope that this will take it to the next level," said Council Member Leslie Curran, chairwoman of the committee.

Clearwater has already agreed to support the expansion, Murphy said. County officials have also expressed interest, but it's unclear whether Largo will be as receptive.

There is one other hurdle: Pinellas Park must agree.

The shelter opened Dec. 1. At first, Catholic Charities said the shelter was an experiment. Critics said it was a poor substitute for a permanent shelter.

Nearly 490 people have stayed at the shelter so far. Of those, 122 found employment and 148 found housing. Fewer than 100 people remain. More than 200 homeless residents, or about 41 percent, are unaccounted for, and shelter staffers think some have returned to the streets.

The tent city was originally scheduled to close April 30, but business groups raised money to keep it open for five more months.

-- Cristina Silva, Times Staff Writer

[2008 file photo, Willie J. Allen, Jr., Times]