HelpCopsHelpUs

Thursday, October 25, 2012

By: Laura Harris TAMPA -

Wilbern Leonard was homeless. He said he had no place to go. He lived on the streets of Tampa for an entire year until he was introduced to the "Homes of Second Chances" initiative put together through the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

"When you're told that you are going to be put into a home and you keep telling yourself its not real, its not real, until you step through that door," says Leonard. "I'm back in a home and I am back to being a human person.

" This particular division of the sheriff's department finds dilapidated homes in the area and instead of letting them stand as possible hot beds for danger, they make them possible homes for those in need. This, in fact, is the fourth home they have refurbished since the program's inception in December of 2011.

"We partner with organizations, like Home Depot Foundation," says Steven Donaldson, HCSO Deputy. "They provide us with grant money to actually allow us to do the renovations on this home to make it liveable again."

And its the program that just keeps on giving. Since they rely on donations from organizations like the Home Depot Foundation and ARS Air Conditioning, the program is at no cost to the taxpayer.

Leonard says he can't thank the organization enough for their help and in fact, he says despite his disability, which makes it hard for him to get around, he still tries to help in any way he can.

"My disabilities don't allow me to do much but pick up some paper, sweep up, everytime I sweep or do a little something I have to take a break because I'm not as winded as I used to be," says Leonard. "I just thank God that all these people have come together to do something special.

"My disabilities don't allow me to do much but pick up some paper, sweep up, everytime I sweep or do a little something I have to take a break because I'm not as winded as I used to be," says Leonard. "I just thank God that all these people have come together to do something special.

Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Homeless Initiative
District III Office: (813) 247-033
Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs

HelpCopsHelpUs.org

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Welcome to Help Cops Help Us: A Homeless Initiative Blog

The Help Cops Help Us homeless initiative is a new problem-solving model centered on the root causes of homelessness. Its philosophy rests on the fundamental human principle that people, all people, will succumb to the human trait of inevitable behavior until intrigued or compelled to act differently.

The uniformed law enforcement officer is the epicenter of the street engagement model that uses a "coupling" technique, motivating each homeless candidate that becomes accountable to a singular and persistent mortal entity -- a street cop.

The coupling effect is a two-pronged approach where candidates who resist assistance and rehabilitation, by default will receive the law enforcement prong when behavior exhibits a callous disregard with laws and a communities desire in maintaining a certain quality of life.

The homeless candidate receives both direct and indirect assistance after a street assessment evaluates their individual needs and problems. We then solve their most basic problems so they may become self-sufficient.

We mend fences, rebuild character, solve their problems, then push them into the water where they are forced to learn how to swim again.

When they are off the streets and into housing we continue to monitor and follow-up until we are certain they have become self sufficient for long term sustainability.