Where are we going, and how will we get there? As a community, we’re constantly seeking the optimal balance between the needs we have and the needs we serve. And through discussion, we arrive at solutions. The At the Table series is for sharing our intentions, ideas, and experiences to help us align and work better – together.
For Councilmember Deborah Figgs-Sanders, homelessness in St. Petersburg is not just a critical issue – it’s a state of emergency.
The concept is not unique. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass declared a state of emergency over the homeless crisis in December. Her first official act as the city’s leader gives her the authority to expedite shelter openings and other initiatives.
Figgs-Sanders is intimately familiar with the problem through lived experiences and community work. She relayed that those unaffected by the issue don’t possess the same sense of urgency as the families sleeping in cars or at run-down motels.
“Those of us with the authority and the resources to make a decision – why do we have to keep kicking the can down the road?” asked Figgs-Sanders. “Make a decision; prioritize it. We find the money for everything else.”
In addition to her role in City Hall, Figg-Sanders now serves as vice-chair for the Pinellas Continuum of Care (CoC) Program. The group works closely with the Homeless Leadership Alliance, and she said community organizations are making the most out of available resources. Read more
