Homelessness
A Supportive Community for All
The City of St. Petersburg strives to meet the needs of people experiencing homelessness while balancing the rights of all residents to have a safe, clean community to enjoy. Review the current ordinances regarding homelessness and panhandling. If residents meet individuals on the street who are in need of help or services, they should refer them to the 2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares call line.
How to Get Help
The Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas provides resources and assistance for persons who are homeless. Find more information at pinellashomeless.org/resources.
How to Help
There are a number of agencies and organizations that are helping meet the needs of those experiencing homelessness and working to alleviate the conditions that lead to homelessness.
To learn more about homelessness in Pinellas County, get involved, or make a tax-deductible donation, visit the Homeless Leadership Alliance of Pinellas.
SOCIAL ACTION FUNDING
Social service agencies that provide homeless services and homeless prevention services can apply to take advantage of Social Action Funding grants from the City of St. Petersburg, when available. Learn more here.
Power of Change Homeless Initiative
The Power of Change Homeless Initiative was implemented in October 2014 by the City of St. Petersburg. This program uses repurposed parking meters to raise awareness about homelessness and gives people the option to donate their spare change to programs that help people experiencing homelessness. The money raised by the donation stations is allocated to the City’s Veteran, Homeless, and Social Services division for use on items for the homeless. Donations can be made directly at a Power of Change Donation Station throughout downtown St. Pete.
Street Outreach Team
The St. Petersburg Police Department's Outreach Team, created in 2006, works to serve people experiencing homelessness who need assistance finding temporary or permanent housing, connecting them with programs and resources. The St. Petersburg Team consists of one full-time Social Worker and an officer from the St. Petersburg Police Department’s Police Assisting the Homeless (PATH) unit. Working together, they conduct regular outreach throughout the entire city.
The outreach effort is viewed as a process rather than an outcome, with the focus on establishing rapport and eventually engaging people and linking them to the shelter and services they need and will accept. The outreach effort includes making basic contact with individuals experiencing homelessness, addressing basic needs, conducting assessments on the street, making linkages and placements, conducting follow-up, and providing advocacy.
A critical component of the Street Outreach Program is the overnight emergency shelter beds at St. Vincent de Paul and Safe Harbor. These beds provide emergency placement to help move citizens experiencing homelessness off the streets while they work with the Outreach Team and other case management providers to access needed shelter, treatment, and services.
Due to the success of the Street Outreach Team, additional teams have been added in Pinellas County, with additional emergency beds at The Turning Point and Homeless Emergency Project, and Catholic Charities’ Pinellas Hope in Clearwater.
Street Outreach teams are the referral point for entrance into Pinellas Hope and Safe Harbor. The St. Petersburg Team can be reached by calling 727-441-5103. Police Assisting the Homeless (PATH) non-emergency voicemail can be reached at 727-551-3783.