Friday, March 30, 2012

Homelessness -- A Problem Not Reserved For Just Men

Dorothy Hayes was one of the first homeless women I met out on the streets back in June of 2010, when the Homeless Initiative started.

Since this time, both Dorothy and her male companion, Robert Toledo, received housing assistance from the Rapid Rehousing grant offered through MHC, Inc. I've learned a few things about homeless recovery in the months that would follow and helping the homeless with housing without additional supportive services doesn't always deliver the long-term sustainable rehabilitation I'm looking for.

After a year-and-a-half from our first encounter, both Dorothy and Robert know that help is just a phone call away when they find themselves in a bind that can't be resolved on their own. And like many fighting the battle against homelessness this bind is unemployment.

So, the three of us - Me, Dorothy, and Robert - pick up the pieces and start all over again with their latest dilemma that has been a high hurdle even for those with marketable skills. Fortunately, I was able to assist Robert almost right away with the Homeless Initiative jobs program recently put into motion. Robert parlayed his bilingual Spanish speaking skills into an on-site sales position with Mobile Auto Glass Repair. He started his new job yesterday in a highly Spanish speaking area on Dale Mabry Hwy where the company was missing out on some Spanish speaking customers.

In the meantime, Dorothy has been working with "The Centre", (formerly The Women's Centre) located at 305 S. Hyde Park Ave in south Tampa. It is here where she sat down one-on-one with employment counselors who helped her brush up her resume, gave her employment and interview tips, listed her on the job search referral, and even gave her some new clothes for job interviews.

The battle against homelessness never really ends, but both Dorothy and Robert at least have the peace of mind knowing now who to call and how to get help.


Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III Office: (813) 247-0330
Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

"Divide-Conquer-Separate" : A Winning Street Strategy

It's a Tuesday morning and I'm traveling south on Dale Mabry Hwy after my last appointment when my cell-phone rings with a telephone number I don't recognize. I answer to hear a voice with the leather-tanned street cadence that I have become so familiar with --

   "Officer Donaldson?"

It's the voice of Johnnie Gleaton on the other end, one of my homeless clients who recently jumped on board with the Homeless Initiative.

   "Hey Johnnie, How's it going," I responded.

  "Officer Donaldson, I just called to thank you for all your help," was his first statement.

I met Johnnie early on at a Town N' Country Burger King where I approached him and asked if he wanted help to get off the streets. Johnnie is what I call, in street parlance, a ham and egger -- a wall flower, and certainly a late adopter. He didn't have too much ambition, it seemed at the time, to accept the help it would take to get off the street. And Johnnie proved my instincts to be correct when he became a no-show for our appointment we had scheduled the following morning.

In these cases, I don't get mad, I don't get even, I just put them on our back burner in the meantime and wear them down over time -- and this is what happened with Johnnie Gleaton. Over the months of watching other people accept help, become successful and get off the streets, eventually this paradigm shift catches up with them and my phone rings one day with a legitimate plead for help.

We also enlist a little known street strategy we call "Divide-Conquer-Separate" and it works something like this: Johnnie had a good friend and confidant named Steven that we helped get off the street many months ago which led to his relocation to Sparta, Illinois. After Steven leaving the area Johnnie was left without his support structure -- his comfort level with life as a homeless man had dropped a notch or two and being homeless and without your closest supporting confidant reveals the true grit of life out on the streets.  This is what disruption is all about; and from there it's just a slow simmer and a waiting game until your phone rings one day -- because, I have all the time in the world and I'm not going anywhere.

And, this is how it worked with Johnnie and many others who first resist the tenets of the Homeless Initiative. In Johnnies case, years of difficult manual labor, older age, and the ashen consequence of street life led him to qualifying for disability income which we helped him apply for. We drove him to the social security office, sit-in on preliminary interviews, help him get to doctors appointments, and so on. In Johnnies case, this was the last alternative to solving his problem if we wanted to maintain a roof over his head -- which he now has.

So today, on this early Tuesday morning, I unexpectedly received the phone call that allows me to enjoy the fruits of my labor from the artful strategy of simply wearing him down.


Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III Office: (813) 247-0330
Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Meet Hillsborough Counties Homeless Recovery Team

Donaldson,McDonald, and Andrews Standing Left to Right
Today was another busy day in the homeless recovery business as most days have been in these latest months. As a burgeoning specialty in the law enforcement arena the Homeless Initiative has become the object of attention and interest by those casual observers who might get a glimpse of what its all about.

Today I was honored to speak at the regularly scheduled SALT Council meeting (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together) held at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. The SALT Council's main function is to act as an advisory group for the area's TRIAD. The focus is on crime and security issues as related to the elderly. The council discusses problems and programs and recommends those which will benefit senior citizens. Triad means a three way commitment among the Sheriff, the chiefs of police within the county and senior citizens. They agree to work together to reduce the criminal victimization of the elderly and enhance the delivery of law enforcement services to older persons.

Today was also the first informal get-together between the law enforcement trifecta of Hillsborough Counties first homeless recovery street engagement specialist: (Me) Deputy Steven Donaldson, Master Officer Dan McDonald, and Deputy Jerry Andrews. The plight of homelessness impinges on all members of our communities, whether directly or indirectly. Some of us know people who are homeless or who have been homeless in the past.

I hope the photograph in this post illustrates the collaborative commitment amongst separate and distinct agencies -- a bound commitment to your community with resolving this lingering problem. 

To quote Master Officer Dan McDonald today, "Homelessness knows no boundaries ..." 

If you have any inquiries about the homeless recovery program, or if you have an interest in a guest speaker at your next office meeting, community event, or homeowners association meeting feel free to contact us directly.

  
Deputy Steven Donaldson 
Covering District III Comprising North West Hillsborough County
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Office: (813) 247-0330
Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs  

Master Officer Dan McDonald
City Wide/ Municipality of Tampa
Tampa Police Department
Office (813) 242-3800
Email: daniel.mcdonald@tampagove.net  

Deputy Jerry Andrews
Covering District I Comprising The University Area
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Office: (813) 247-0600
Lutz Community Station: (813)264-8950
Email: gandrews@hcso.tampa.fl.us

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Man vs. Wild -- Day 114 www.homelessrobshome.blogspot.com

This post is a mere snippet from Robert Rashford's video journal that can be found at www.homelessrobshome.blogspot.com. Robert carries his video camera with him as he treks through the hidden trails that lead to his homeless camp on day 114 of his homeless blogging. It a small introspective into the unvarnished reality of one man's homeless plight and struggle to get off the streets of Town N' Country. As you may very well know by now Robert is currently employed and off the streets but his story continues. He has had some recent success but as Robert would say, "I'm not totally out of the woods yet." Homeless recovery isn't completely resolved the first day you start getting a paycheck and a roof over your head. Some of my other homeless clients describe homelessness almost like an addiction or a cycle that has to be broken. When Robert is in the clear he'll be glad he documented his former life out on the street. Every now and again you have to take a quick look back just to see to how far you have come. Keep up the great work Robert, we are all proud of you!

Hillsborough tries 'unconventional' homeless tactic



Story Posted 6/11/2011 by Jeff Butera ABC Action News

TAMPA - Hillsborough County has arrested one homeless person a whopping 72 times. Deputy Steven Donaldson believes that’s the perfect example of why the county needs to change the way they interact with the homeless population.

“We’re spinning our wheels and we’re not getting anywhere,” Donaldson said.

Starting last year, Donaldson has tried a different tactic, hoping to keep the homeless population from panhandling on the streets and also keep them out of jail. He has offered them what he calls a choice of two hands.

The ‘first hand’ offers them help to get things back on track. If they refuse the ‘first hand,’ the ‘second hand’ is a trip to jail.

Donaldson said the first thing he tries to do is direct the homeless people where to go to get help, whether it’s places to get low-rent housing or food stamps.

“It’s not just the single issue of not knowing where to go – although that’s the first issue -- the other issue is ‘How do they get down there?" Donaldson said.

Donaldson helps them with that too. So far, he has helped about 50 homeless people get off the street and get a roof over their head.

While it’s good for them, Donaldson believes it’s also good for the community as a whole, because it gets people off the streets where they are panhandling and causing blight.

Donaldson has a roster of homeless people that he monitors and plans to continue with this new tactic as long as it remains successful.


Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III
Office: (813) 247-0330
Email:  sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

Tampa Police Adopt Street Engagement Model

I recall back in May of 2011, while speaking in front of the Board of County Commissioners, Victor Crist inquiring about the future of the Homeless Initiative, he asked: "Have other agencies reached out to you to share your strategy with a larger audience?" My answer at the time: "No they haven't, but I anticipate that will happen."

In February 2012, that salacious anticipation was satisfied after receiving an Email from Master Officer Dan McDonald with the Tampa Police Department which read:

"My name is Dan McDonald, I'm a police officer at TPD and have been assigned to the newly created position of homeless liaison officer."
"I'm wondering if I could take a few minutes of your time, at your convenience, to discuss how you perform your job and to get ideas about what works and doesn't work for my position."


This was the first significant milestone in terms of interagency jurisdictional expansion of the organic growth variety. "Organic growth" may very well be lofty business terminology for law enforcement work but tepid restraint has its merit in the evolutionary process of fits and starts in passing the stress test of the street when administering new initiatives. Particularly, initiatives that may be seen as radical or unorthodox for its time.  For the Homeless Initiative to organically franchise into other jurisdictions it would have to do so based on its own perceived virtue as witnessed by others and not me. 

McDonald's Email was the first sign of this tipping point with an idea that spills over into a new boundary. There is a difference between a concept being embraced and being forced-fed. For a new initiative to fundamentally work with long term sustainability it must be embraced and that is the definition of organic growth and appeal at the street level.  

Since McDonald's first Email communication we have blurred our jurisdictional lines working together hand-in-glove to fast track the Tampa Police Department street engagement model. The answer to homeless recovery starts on the street where the problem is -- not in a boardroom, and Master Officer McDonald has been a devoted journeyman to this mantra of the street engagement and homeless recovery assistance.

McDonald made it clear to me early on, "We're not interested in kicking the can down the road any longer," he said. He added, "We want to solve these problems and help people get off the street and into a stable living situation."


Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III
Office: (813) 247-0330
Email:  sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs


Homeless Rob has a blog and he doesn't call it homeless for nothing - Tampa Bay Times

Homeless Rob has a blog and he doesn't call it homeless for nothing - Tampa Bay Times
(Reads Sundays, March 25, 2012, Tampa Bay Times Online story- Click Link Above)

Robert Rashford is one of my more successful students of homeless recovery. He currently lives at our first residential rehab project on Old Memorial Hwy. He since has been hired by our private sector partner, Mobile Auto Glass Repair, moving up to a sales position at one of their car wash locations. On one of his first days of pitching auto glass repair he transacted five commercial sales which by all accounts is a substantial day in the sales arena, says his new employer Rob Arnold.

What's more, Robert is one heck of a social engineer in the blogosphere world where tens of hundreds and I think even thousands of online followers as far away as Australia read and comment about his experiences on the streets as a recovering homeless man. His blog is a personal journal giving tips on street survival combined with anecdotal yet intriguing stories capturing the unvarnished reality of homeless plight.

Many from his cyber audience have encouraged him to write about these struggles and his successes to help others understand the hidden side of homelessness. He just finished writing the eBook version about this journey recently self-published on Amazon.com. Since the release of his eBook titled: Yelling into the wind, he was featured as a guest on BlogTalkRadio this past Saturday morning to talk about his book.

When our homeless candidates receive help from our Homeless Initiative we only ask in return that they become a foot solider for the same brand of homeless recovery that helped them get off the streets. Robert fulfills this obligation to duty almost as a daily ritual. Through his blogosphere network he has connected me to many professionals and homeless devotees in establishing a nonprofit organization and website. Through the reach of his blog audience he has also been contacted by the St Pete Times spending a day with him out on the street; and if that wasn't enough an award winning producer contacted him about a possible HBO documentary.

I would like to think that the Sheriff's Office has played a small hand in this success even though Robert has the innate motivation that very well would have produced these results on his own. At the very least, helping him with a residence and a full-time job certainly helped nurture these attributes that were always present.





Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III
Office: (813) 247-0330
Email:  sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

Private Sector Jobs Initiative



Mobile Auto Glass Repair is our first private sector jobs partner through a cooperating effort with the Homeless Initiative. Homeless candidates are assisted with full-time work to help them get off the streets and maintain stable housing. A big Thanks to Rob Arnold and David Duncan with Mobile Auto Glass Repair for making it happen and to Bay News 9 and Dalia Dangerfield for covering the story.

Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III
Office: (813) 247-0330
Email:  sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

Friday, March 23, 2012

                                  Dalia Dangerfield, Baynews9, covered the jobs program today sponsored by David                                      Duncan, Training Supervisor with Mobile Auto Glass Repair Company
Robert Pellichio, a former homeless man now off the streets and employed  by
 the Mobile Auto Glass Repair sponsorship.

Robert Toledo a Town N' Country homeless being interview by Dalia Dangerfield.


 David Duncan, Training Supervisor with Mobile Auto Glass Repair stands next to current and future  employees in training, all of whom were previously homeless and received help through the  Homeless Initiative.
 Robert Rashford, a former homeless man in Town N' Country received housing assistance and his current sales position with Mobile Auto Glass Repair through his cooperation with the Homeless Initiative.
Town N Country homeless man, Robert Toledo, being supervised by his training supervisor, David Duncan with Mobile Auto Glass Repair Company. Robert will start his employment at a satellite sales location when his training is completed.

Trustee Pays Cork board Homage To The Sheriff's Office

You never know what you will stumble upon when you're trying something new like the Homeless Initiative. This morning proved that point  again when I found the December article posted on the cork board inside the trustees' shed at the District III office on Gunn Hwy. I was obviously curious -- who would post the article about the Homeless Initiative here -- and why? After some asking around the answer should have been more obvious to me.

A few weeks ago the employees at District III  had assembled to help a 24-year-old man that had been a favored trustee -- his name was Daniel.

After paying his debt to the Sheriff's Office as a trustee, Daniel was left homeless. He returned to District III to visit shortly after his departure as  an obliged custodian and groundskeeper where a few had discovered that he was in fact living on the streets.

Former District III Trustee Daniel
I remember receiving a number of phone calls from DIII personnel as high ranking as Lieutenant asking me, "Can you help Daniel get off the streets?" I could see that Daniel was well-liked at District III and the fact that he was a former trustee didn't  matter much to those district employees calling on his behalf.

I'm happy to say that Daniel was a quick-fix after calling in a favor or two I had him a place to stay within hours.

So, if we fast forward to this morning I now realize it was Daniel -- in his own way -- paying homage to the employees at District III who have helped him. Taking the time with proudly displaying  the Homeless  Initiative article on the trustees' cork board speaks volumes without him even being there.



Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III
Office: (813) 247-0330
Email:  sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Russell: Sometimes You Just Need a Kick In The Pants

Russell, a former homeless man, stands over the fruits of his sweat equity labor. Over the St Patrick's Day weekend he spent most of his time planting the ornamental garden and rebuilding the weathered wooden deck that frames the entrance of is new home. It wasn't too long ago I received a call for help from Deputy George while he was patrolling the streets of Town N' Country. It seems a church on Kelly Road had gained a new member, but this new addition wasn't part of the worshiping flock. It was a homeless man named Russell sleeping on the church grounds overnight using the place of worship as shelter. I eventually caught up with Russell or I should say he caught up with me first. Days later after never finding Russell on the church property he ran into me at the Town N' Country library -- a central meeting point for scheduled appointments with those calling for help. "Are you Deputy Donaldson?" Russell asked. Having never met him before he explained, "I'm Russell -- I'm homeless, can you help me?" Many months later Russell has earned the privilege of trading his sweat equity for a comfortable roof over his head. Today he lives in one of two residential rehab projects recently organized by the Homeless Initiative on Old Memorial Hwy. Homes that were once vacant and in disrepair are refurbished by the formerly homeless men who live there now. In time, when they get their heads above water they will start paying a nominal and graduated rental fee. I remember when we first helped Russell get off the streets I asked him what was his motivation. Russell came back with a crafty yet obliging answer, "Sometimes you just need a kick in the pants", he said.


Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III
Office: (813) 247-0330
Email:  sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Sometimes Street Engagement Starts At Dunkin Donuts


It is my usual early morning fix, the perfectly blended aroma of Dunkin Donuts coffee -- my first stop of the day where I find James seated at the table in front of the store. I have known James for well over a year now and he has asked for very little in the way of help. He found a decent enough paying job to get himself off the streets and has been working as a garage attended for most of this time.

After suffering an injury to his foot he has missed some work and now he depends on a crutch until it heals. But, it's this type of disruption that landed him out on the street again after doing so well on his own for some time.

This is why the street engagement model is so effective; because, at some point in time they end up falling back into our net again -- like he did today. So, today most of my time will be working with him to find another suitable residence to get him back off the streets and into housing. It shouldn't be too much trouble with the steady paying job, we'll give him a little boost and a little direction and he'll be back to good again.


Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III
Office: (813) 247-0330
Email:  sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

Monday, March 19, 2012

Homeless Makeovers "Before" and "After"





Luis a70-Year-Old Homeless Man


I wanted to start this post off with the most startling pictures instead of the usual rosy finish I prefer. But, only to drive home this point: how does a 70 year-old man, suffering from an apparent and unchecked mental health obstacle -- live in the armpits of this repugnant stench and squalor for over a year?

This was the Sheriff's Office second encounter with Luis since late July, where he was handed-over for a baseline mental health evaluation.

Unfortunately, he was cut loose without notice only to return to the streets again.

The theory of our boundless geographical permanence was obvious today, since Luis fell back into our net once again -- it's a simple analysis: the trespassing offender leads to a complaint, and the complaint delivers the police.

On this encounter we tried something different -- I contacted adult services who responded within an hour, considering a homeless man of 70 years a priority response. When Luis was offered the help to get off the streets he first whimpered then he sobbed. He cried last time I offered him the same help, but he fell through the cracks of a fragmented system before I could deliver it.

If I've proven anything in the last year it's this: not every homeless person wants to be homeless and when offered legitimate assistance to get off the streets most accept, like Luis did.

To get Luis the help he needs, even a qualified case manager, sometimes has to navigate the system. We managed to get Luis admitted for the long overdue assistance he needed. Thanks to Steven, the Adult Services case manager, he received residential placement within just a few days and now lives in a group retirement home.


Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III
Office: (813) 247-0330
Email:  sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

Saturday, March 17, 2012

JeffreyTheApeMan.mp4


Jeffrey is one of my successful homeless recovery students. I first met Jeffrey sleeping on a stack of pallets behind a Town N' Country Publix store (Not me but him!). With the help of the Homeless Initiative he has a place to stay and as you will see a rather unique job which could be categorized in the entertainment field. A big THANKS to Larry's Giant Subs located on Kennedy Blvd for giving him a chance at employment. Enjoy the video...


Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
District III
Office: (813) 247-0330
Email:  sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

ScottyJam Guitar Duo



"Scotty" featured in this video and "Little John" featured in the second video are two of more than a few homeless men and women on the streets of Town N' Country. While "John" has asked for help and is ready to get off the streets, Scotty is still sitting on the fence. Nevertheless, he couldn't be out done by John's self-taught style so he grabbed the guitar and broke into some John Mellancamp, "Pink Houses" for you and me ...

"Little John" Homeless Jam



It wasn't long ago I discovered this homeless camp in a remote area off of Hillsborough Ave. "John" and "Scotty" are two of three homeless men that have lived in the camp for well over a year. Admittedly, it is one of the most well put together homeless camps that I have seen in the hills of the county. Not too long ago, "John" asked for help to get off the streets and I have recently started working with him to get his homeless recovery moving along. Shortly after my most recent visit to the camp the strumming duo broke into a jam session and the rest was caught on tape.