Gov's Budget to Eliminate Funds for Homeless

[GoodWitch58]

Proposed Budget Cuts Could Slash Homeless Programs and Services

Critics also warn the cuts will put strains on other public services.

"With funding cuts in all these areas what we're going to end up seeing is greater utilization of our hospital emergency room, greater call on our law enforcement, and a population revolving in and out of our prison," said Combs. ?What is it they say? An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? I?m afraid we?re throwing that prevention out the window.?

The last report I saw had 800 plus, homeless children in Bay County alone. http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/...n_In_Bay_County_Is_On_The_Rise_117698178.html I have worked with some of the children who are high school age...they have horrendous life stories to tell. They are not homeless by choice--some of them are only alive by sheer will--so, they will not go away just because the Governor's budget no longer provides the "survival" funds...who will help them?

I can see eliminating these funding sources if there is some other way to support the programs. Who will step up? Where are the corporations? The churches? We have an excellent model here in Walton County with the Children's Health organization...are there others? How will we as a society fill this gap? Do we have a right to expect our elected leadership provide some ideas or are they there just to eliminate programs? Is it just about the money or is it something else?

IMO it is not only a moral issue of caring of children who can not care for themselves; but, it is a societal issue that few seem to be paying attention to. All of society suffers when 800 children in one county (who knows how many there are in the entire state?) are homeless. Slash and burn budgets may be necessary--but there must be some sort of safety net and I don't see one being built for children and the elderly and veterans right now.

Take a look at the kinds of bills our elected officials (the ones from NW Florida) are sponsoring...are children, the homeless, education, the elderly, our state parks, really less important than guns, septic tanks, development regulations and legacy golf courses...think about it.

Saw this posted by another Sowaler on another site. It seems appropriate here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/one-thought/one-thought-from-albert-einstein-/204654792894747

"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit, not knowing why, yet sometimes seeming to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, however, there is one thing we do know: That we are here for the sake of others...for the countless unknown souls with whose fate we are connected by a bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realize how much my outer and inner life is built upon the labors of people, both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received.?

Albert Einstein

 

[30ashopper]

Where would you pull the funding from to pay for this if you were governor?

 

[beachmouse]

Well the direct payment to multi-millionare Jack Nicklaus would cover a whole bunch of services to the homeless in the state.

 

[Andy A]

Well the direct payment to multi-millionare Jack Nicklaus would cover a whole bunch of services to the homeless in the state.

Please bear in mind that hasn't happened yet and probably won't. For that matter, neither has the reduction of government funds for the homeless.

 

[GoodWitch58]

and hopefully it won't happen. This calls for mature, reasonable people to be paying attention and to be willing to stand up for principles of good stewardship.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Where would you pull the funding from to pay for this if you were governor?

I would start with the additional positions and dollars he is adding to the Esxecutive Office of the Governor and the re-institution of the Department of Commerce. I believe there is plenty of room to take the present set up of Enterprize Florida and Visit Florida which were privatized during previous administrations and make them more efficient and more accountable...and still be able to market both Florida's tourism and Economic Development (and maybe the Agricultural and Citrus marketting too) sufficiently.

Local governments can do much of this work if they work in conjunction with the centralized agency. I can see no reason to close them down and re-establish the duties in the governor's office with more state employees and more public money.

Obviously, I have no real idea what Gov Scott plans to do with this situation, and I do not have access to any of his planning...but we're speaking in "magic wand" here...

I am bothered by the trend that includes reducing or demolishing services for those who are most vulnerable: homeless, children, elderly, disabled; health care; education; public employees; state parks; infrastructure, while tax cuts to corporations and regulations that allow for unmanaged growth and irresponsible off shore drilling are held harmless..and the really disturbing trend is that much of this is being done in a haphazard way depending upon public interests' lobbying, rather than in a holistic, visionary way of doing what is right for the people of Florida and our fragile state.
We need some selfless leadership in all arenas IMO.
I wonder if people ever ask themselves: why did Governor Scott want to be Governor so badly that he would spend $80 million dollars to be a volunteer governor? Why does Representative__________or Senator__________ want to be an elected official?
The answers to those questions might generate some revealing conversation...

 

[30ashopper]

If I had a spare 80 mil and thought I had a chance at winning, I'd run for the office. Why? becuase I love the state and would hate to see it become California. We offer people a great alternative to the progressive state system. I'd like to see it improved even further.

 

[LuciferSam]

I expect to see them camped out on some of the new golf courses.

 

[Matt J]

Perhaps Mr. Scott could forgo his state salary. Something tells me he doesn't really need the money. Show that his 80 million dollar spend to get this job was purely to help Florida and not help special interest cronies destroy our state for a short term profit.

Why don't we just stop advertising Florida. I'm no pollster, but I'm betting that 100% of Americans are aware of us and that we have beaches and tourist attractions. Give it one year and see what happens, perhaps the mystique would drive more tourists.

 

[scooterbug44]

I thought Scott was already forgoing his salary - think it is officially 1 cent.

I'm with you on cutting advertising.