let me ask you to do something for me please and that’s to close your eyes
please and that’s to close your eyes
please and that’s to close your eyes and while they’re closed I want you to
and while they’re closed I want you to
and while they’re closed I want you to get a really bright strong picture of
get a really bright strong picture of
get a really bright strong picture of someone who’s homeless in our community
someone who’s homeless in our community
someone who’s homeless in our community you have the picture okay you can open
you have the picture okay you can open
you have the picture okay you can open your eyes now your pictures probably
your eyes now your pictures probably
your eyes now your pictures probably pretty similar to someone I’ve gotten to
pretty similar to someone I’ve gotten to
pretty similar to someone I’ve gotten to know really well over the last few years
know really well over the last few years
know really well over the last few years when I first met Amy was living under a
when I first met Amy was living under a
when I first met Amy was living under a bridge he was dirty skinny looked like
bridge he was dirty skinny looked like
bridge he was dirty skinny looked like he hadn’t had a meal in months all of
he hadn’t had a meal in months all of
he hadn’t had a meal in months all of his possessions in that bag right next
his possessions in that bag right next
his possessions in that bag right next to him right and he often asked for all
to him right and he often asked for all
to him right and he often asked for all of us to provide him something as you
of us to provide him something as you
of us to provide him something as you passed by him is that similar to your
passed by him is that similar to your
passed by him is that similar to your picture well as I got to know Dave I
picture well as I got to know Dave I
picture well as I got to know Dave I realized that that was only one piece of
realized that that was only one piece of
realized that that was only one piece of his picture and in fact as I got to know
his picture and in fact as I got to know
his picture and in fact as I got to know him more what I learned was that he was
him more what I learned was that he was
him more what I learned was that he was a veteran honorably served our country
a veteran honorably served our country
a veteran honorably served our country for four years living under a bridge
for four years living under a bridge
for four years living under a bridge with PTSD so this is the picture that
with PTSD so this is the picture that
with PTSD so this is the picture that many of us have of who is homeless in
many of us have of who is homeless in
many of us have of who is homeless in Central Florida single guy on the
Central Florida single guy on the
Central Florida single guy on the streets suffering with a mental or
streets suffering with a mental or
streets suffering with a mental or physical disability but would it
physical disability but would it
physical disability but would it surprise you to know that’s not our
surprise you to know that’s not our
surprise you to know that’s not our entire picture of homelessness and what
entire picture of homelessness and what
entire picture of homelessness and what do you think the largest population is
do you think the largest population is
do you think the largest population is well we do have some single women we
well we do have some single women we
well we do have some single women we have some children but our biggest
have some children but our biggest
have some children but our biggest population our biggest population of
population our biggest population of
population our biggest population of homelessness are our families they’re
homelessness are our families they’re
homelessness are our families they’re our neighbors and they are in many cases
our neighbors and they are in many cases
our neighbors and they are in many cases your employees so would it surprise you
your employees so would it surprise you
your employees so would it surprise you to know in our community the
to know in our community the
to know in our community the one in 17 children one in 17th are at
one in 17 children one in 17th are at
one in 17 children one in 17th are at risk of being homeless this year that
risk of being homeless this year that
risk of being homeless this year that 45% of us
45% of us
45% of us that’s 1.8 million people in our
that’s 1.8 million people in our
that’s 1.8 million people in our community are what we call the working
community are what we call the working
community are what we call the working poor working 40 50 60 hours a week often
poor working 40 50 60 hours a week often
poor working 40 50 60 hours a week often to part-time jobs and they can’t make it
to part-time jobs and they can’t make it
to part-time jobs and they can’t make it they can’t live here in Central Florida
they can’t live here in Central Florida
they can’t live here in Central Florida is that surprising to you when we’re
is that surprising to you when we’re
is that surprising to you when we’re talking about families who can’t make it
talking about families who can’t make it
talking about families who can’t make it I want to introduce you like I
I want to introduce you like I
I want to introduce you like I introduced you to Dave to a family John
introduced you to Dave to a family John
introduced you to Dave to a family John and Jenna and their three kids now John
and Jenna and their three kids now John
and Jenna and their three kids now John and Jenna just moved their family down
and Jenna just moved their family down
and Jenna just moved their family down to Central Florida because they lost
to Central Florida because they lost
to Central Florida because they lost their job up in the north John’s got a
their job up in the north John’s got a
their job up in the north John’s got a great skill he’s a computer tech
great skill he’s a computer tech
great skill he’s a computer tech immediately found a job here in Central
immediately found a job here in Central
immediately found a job here in Central Florida making $10 an hour now that’s
Florida making $10 an hour now that’s
Florida making $10 an hour now that’s down from his $20 that he made up in
down from his $20 that he made up in
down from his $20 that he made up in Ohio so his wife is going to have to go
Ohio so his wife is going to have to go
Ohio so his wife is going to have to go back to work to make ends meet but we’ve
back to work to make ends meet but we’ve
back to work to make ends meet but we’ve got a great economy here it’s growing
got a great economy here it’s growing
got a great economy here it’s growing and it’s thriving he got a job too right
and it’s thriving he got a job too right
and it’s thriving he got a job too right away making eight dollars and 50 cents
away making eight dollars and 50 cents
away making eight dollars and 50 cents an hour as a receptionist so that’s
an hour as a receptionist so that’s
an hour as a receptionist so that’s great right two full-time parents taking
great right two full-time parents taking
great right two full-time parents taking care of their three children on more
care of their three children on more
care of their three children on more than minimum wage well let’s see about
than minimum wage well let’s see about
than minimum wage well let’s see about that when you take John and Jenna’s
that when you take John and Jenna’s
that when you take John and Jenna’s monthly net income of two thousand two
monthly net income of two thousand two
monthly net income of two thousand two hundred and twenty dollars and you take
hundred and twenty dollars and you take
hundred and twenty dollars and you take away a modest amount for food and gas
away a modest amount for food and gas
away a modest amount for food and gas and then you think about their key
and then you think about their key
and then you think about their key drivers every month living in a
drivers every month living in a
drivers every month living in a week-to-week hotel because they can’t
week-to-week hotel because they can’t
week-to-week hotel because they can’t afford the down payment on an apartment
afford the down payment on an apartment
afford the down payment on an apartment transportation for Jenna because they
transportation for Jenna because they
transportation for Jenna because they only have one car and childcare for
only have one car and childcare for
only have one car and childcare for three children without spending one
three children without spending one
three children without spending one extra penny they’re in the hole every
extra penny they’re in the hole every
extra penny they’re in the hole every month $500 to working adults working
month $500 to working adults working
month $500 to working adults working full-time
full-time
full-time not minimum wage and they can’t make it
not minimum wage and they can’t make it
not minimum wage and they can’t make it here in Central Florida so what are we
here in Central Florida so what are we
here in Central Florida so what are we doing at the Central Florida Commission
doing at the Central Florida Commission
doing at the Central Florida Commission on homelessness to make a difference in
on homelessness to make a difference in
on homelessness to make a difference in these populations let me go back to Dave
these populations let me go back to Dave
these populations let me go back to Dave remember I told you has a chronic
remember I told you has a chronic
remember I told you has a chronic illness or chronic disability of some
illness or chronic disability of some
illness or chronic disability of some sort and this is the way we
sort and this is the way we
sort and this is the way we traditionally dealt with the Dave’s of
traditionally dealt with the Dave’s of
traditionally dealt with the Dave’s of the world we would send him to a shelter
the world we would send him to a shelter
the world we would send him to a shelter and say to him well it’s gonna cost you
and say to him well it’s gonna cost you
and say to him well it’s gonna cost you eight dollars every night that you’re
eight dollars every night that you’re
eight dollars every night that you’re here so what I want you to do is I want
here so what I want you to do is I want
here so what I want you to do is I want to pick yourself up by the bootstraps go
to pick yourself up by the bootstraps go
to pick yourself up by the bootstraps go find a job and maybe then we’ll find you
find a job and maybe then we’ll find you
find a job and maybe then we’ll find you some housing all right remember Dave
some housing all right remember Dave
some housing all right remember Dave suffers from mental or physical
suffers from mental or physical
suffers from mental or physical disabilities and it just wasn’t working
disabilities and it just wasn’t working
disabilities and it just wasn’t working over decades we kept trying the same old
over decades we kept trying the same old
over decades we kept trying the same old same old thing running people through
same old thing running people through
same old thing running people through transitional housing asking them to buck
transitional housing asking them to buck
transitional housing asking them to buck it up go get a job and it was costing
it up go get a job and it was costing
it up go get a job and it was costing our community $31,000 per year per
our community $31,000 per year per
our community $31,000 per year per person to do it this way can you imagine
person to do it this way can you imagine
person to do it this way can you imagine so then there were some really smart
so then there were some really smart
so then there were some really smart people around the country who went you
people around the country who went you
people around the country who went you know what we need to start challenging
know what we need to start challenging
know what we need to start challenging the status quo we need to do something
the status quo we need to do something
the status quo we need to do something different we have to change and so the
different we have to change and so the
different we have to change and so the new model for the 21st century it’s
new model for the 21st century it’s
new model for the 21st century it’s called the housing first model now think
called the housing first model now think
called the housing first model now think about this if you give someone a home
about this if you give someone a home
about this if you give someone a home they’re no longer homeless no no no
they’re no longer homeless no no no
they’re no longer homeless no no no think about that when you give someone a
think about that when you give someone a
think about that when you give someone a home they’re no longer homeless and this
home they’re no longer homeless and this
home they’re no longer homeless and this is the model we’ve started employing
is the model we’ve started employing
is the model we’ve started employing here in Central Florida and I am so
here in Central Florida and I am so
here in Central Florida and I am so proud to say that our are three County
proud to say that our are three County
proud to say that our are three County region in 18 months 18 months by using
region in 18 months 18 months by using
region in 18 months 18 months by using the system we have housed nearly 800
the system we have housed nearly 800
the system we have housed nearly 800 formerly homeless people those who had
formerly homeless people those who had
formerly homeless people those who had the most chronically
the most chronically
the most chronically severe situations some of them 10 15 20
severe situations some of them 10 15 20
severe situations some of them 10 15 20 years living on the streets 800 people
years living on the streets 800 people
years living on the streets 800 people we’ve has that deserves a round of
we’ve has that deserves a round of
we’ve has that deserves a round of applause right oh and this model
applause right oh and this model
applause right oh and this model remember $31,000 this on average across
remember $31,000 this on average across
remember $31,000 this on average across the nation is costing our community
the nation is costing our community
the nation is costing our community 10,000 not only is it the right thing to
10,000 not only is it the right thing to
10,000 not only is it the right thing to do it is absolutely the smart thing to
do it is absolutely the smart thing to
do it is absolutely the smart thing to do so what about our families the John’s
do so what about our families the John’s
do so what about our families the John’s and Jenna’s and their children what do
and Jenna’s and their children what do
and Jenna’s and their children what do we do about them
we do about them
we do about them well we haven’t figured that out what we
well we haven’t figured that out what we
well we haven’t figured that out what we do know is that the basis of it we have
do know is that the basis of it we have
do know is that the basis of it we have to get our families stabilized into
to get our families stabilized into
to get our families stabilized into homes but it’s much more complex because
homes but it’s much more complex because
homes but it’s much more complex because it’s economic right there is a gap
it’s economic right there is a gap
it’s economic right there is a gap between what we make and what it costs
between what we make and what it costs
between what we make and what it costs to live in Central Florida
to live in Central Florida
to live in Central Florida on average $15 the cost to live here
on average $15 the cost to live here
on average $15 the cost to live here $20 there’s a gap of almost $5 an hour
$20 there’s a gap of almost $5 an hour
$20 there’s a gap of almost $5 an hour so what do we do about that well we
so what do we do about that well we
so what do we do about that well we could raise wages we could look for
could raise wages we could look for
could raise wages we could look for creative solutions to affordable housing
creative solutions to affordable housing
creative solutions to affordable housing we could subsidize transportation and
we could subsidize transportation and
we could subsidize transportation and childcare so what do we do I would argue
childcare so what do we do I would argue
childcare so what do we do I would argue yes yes and yes it is a combination of
yes yes and yes it is a combination of
yes yes and yes it is a combination of all of that but that’s going to require
all of that but that’s going to require
all of that but that’s going to require a community strategy it’s going to take
a community strategy it’s going to take
a community strategy it’s going to take all of us each and every one of you in
all of us each and every one of you in
all of us each and every one of you in this room whether you represent business
this room whether you represent business
this room whether you represent business government nonprofit the faith community
government nonprofit the faith community
government nonprofit the faith community we have to have a community strategy on
we have to have a community strategy on
we have to have a community strategy on how we fill that gap and it’s not unlike
how we fill that gap and it’s not unlike
how we fill that gap and it’s not unlike any other community strategy we’ve ever
any other community strategy we’ve ever
any other community strategy we’ve ever employed whether it’s I don’t know build
employed whether it’s I don’t know build
employed whether it’s I don’t know build a new stadium or build a university even
a new stadium or build a university even
a new stadium or build a university even in Central Florida bill
in Central Florida bill
in Central Florida bill an entire Medical City it took a
an entire Medical City it took a
an entire Medical City it took a strategy that was based on a shared
strategy that was based on a shared
strategy that was based on a shared common vision on what we wanted to see
common vision on what we wanted to see
common vision on what we wanted to see happen and then underpinning that vision
happen and then underpinning that vision
happen and then underpinning that vision we have to have great data clear
we have to have great data clear
we have to have great data clear deadlines and the dollars to support
deadlines and the dollars to support
deadlines and the dollars to support that shared vision
that shared vision
that shared vision can you imagine building this gorgeous
can you imagine building this gorgeous
can you imagine building this gorgeous place without having all of those
place without having all of those
place without having all of those elements in place in Central Florida
elements in place in Central Florida
elements in place in Central Florida you’ve been on i-4 recently right the
you’ve been on i-4 recently right the
you’ve been on i-4 recently right the i-4 ultimate project cost us 1.2 billion
i-4 ultimate project cost us 1.2 billion
i-4 ultimate project cost us 1.2 billion dollars to get us a better way to
dollars to get us a better way to
dollars to get us a better way to transfer from one region one part of the
transfer from one region one part of the
transfer from one region one part of the region to the next
region to the next
region to the next could you imagine the Florida Department
could you imagine the Florida Department
could you imagine the Florida Department of Transportation doing that without
of Transportation doing that without
of Transportation doing that without having excellent data great research
having excellent data great research
having excellent data great research clear deadlines and the dollars to get
clear deadlines and the dollars to get
clear deadlines and the dollars to get it done
it done
it done could we employ the same approach to
could we employ the same approach to
could we employ the same approach to solving homelessness we can and we are
solving homelessness we can and we are
solving homelessness we can and we are at the Central Florida Commission on
at the Central Florida Commission on
at the Central Florida Commission on homelessness with all of our partners
homelessness with all of our partners
homelessness with all of our partners that’s our approach what we’re trying to
that’s our approach what we’re trying to
that’s our approach what we’re trying to understand as a system is how do you get
understand as a system is how do you get
understand as a system is how do you get a hundred and thirty different
a hundred and thirty different
a hundred and thirty different organizations that currently touch
organizations that currently touch
organizations that currently touch homelessness working in the same
homelessness working in the same
homelessness working in the same direction well it starts with great data
direction well it starts with great data
direction well it starts with great data for the last three years the Commission
for the last three years the Commission
for the last three years the Commission has been working to put a face on
has been working to put a face on
has been working to put a face on homelessness so that we can begin to see
homelessness so that we can begin to see
homelessness so that we can begin to see our homeless as individual people who
our homeless as individual people who
our homeless as individual people who need our help and support
need our help and support
need our help and support it also takes deadlines two years ago we
it also takes deadlines two years ago we
it also takes deadlines two years ago we said we were gonna house 300 chronically
said we were gonna house 300 chronically
said we were gonna house 300 chronically homeless people and we’ve housed 800 we
homeless people and we’ve housed 800 we
homeless people and we’ve housed 800 we can’t let up we have to continue on
can’t let up we have to continue on
can’t let up we have to continue on clear consistent deadlines so we don’t
clear consistent deadlines so we don’t
clear consistent deadlines so we don’t forget who we’re serving and finally
forget who we’re serving and finally
forget who we’re serving and finally dollars this is not a government issue
dollars this is not a government issue
dollars this is not a government issue alone
alone
alone we all need to invest in this issue it’s
we all need to invest in this issue it’s
we all need to invest in this issue it’s going to take all of us to invest in
going to take all of us to invest in
going to take all of us to invest in solving homelessness for it to happen
solving homelessness for it to happen
solving homelessness for it to happen so here vision data deadlines dollars
so here vision data deadlines dollars
so here vision data deadlines dollars can we do this can you believe in this
can we do this can you believe in this
can we do this can you believe in this vision because it’s gonna take all of us
vision because it’s gonna take all of us
vision because it’s gonna take all of us can you believe that we could implement
can you believe that we could implement
can you believe that we could implement a system and the underpinning of that
a system and the underpinning of that
a system and the underpinning of that system is the belief that everyone in
system is the belief that everyone in
system is the belief that everyone in Central Florida everyone in our
Central Florida everyone in our
Central Florida everyone in our community deserves a home can you
community deserves a home can you
community deserves a home can you believe can we work together to rethink
believe can we work together to rethink
believe can we work together to rethink homelessness thank you very much
homelessness thank you very much
homelessness thank you very much [Applause]
”
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