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
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