Homeless Residents Find Hope During Holidays At Tampa Shelter

TAMPA, FL — On Saturday, a local athletics organization for kids served up a Thanksgiving feast to 100 residents at Tampa Hope, a temporary shelter in downtown Tampa for those experiencing homelessness.

Tampa Hope also provides clothes, food, counseling, job placement and more to homeless men and women.

R.U.F.F. Athletics is a Christian-based organization that works to build confidence in kids through sports. It operates a track and field team for kids, who took part in the day of volunteering at the Tampa Hope site.

Sharika Smith-Ball, who serves as one of the CEOs of R.U.F.F. Athletics, experienced homelessness as a child and understands the challenges faced by the residents of Tampa Hope. Now, her family and her organization focus on giving back.

“It’s a very valuable thing for our kids to be able to understand that at some point, we will all need a helping hand,” Smith-Ball said. “Empathy, kindness and grace are key. Tampa Hope is an incredible organization providing a lifeline to people in our community. This day of service is a reminder to our kids to appreciate all the blessings they have in their lives."

In March 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Tampa partnered with the Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg to create Tampa Hope to serve the city's most vulnerable groups, setting up a camp of temporary tents to provide housing.

“In Tampa, we help each other in times of need, and this is a perfect example," Castor said. "This incredible initiative is offering potentially life-saving resources like shelter, food and a place to shower to those that need them most, and it will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our community. The sooner we start taking care of each other, the sooner we can get through this together.”

By the time the temporary shelter closed on June 3, 2020. During the 65 days in operation, it served 210 homeless men and women and placed 76 into permanent housing.

During that time, no resident tested positive for COVID-19.

But the need for sheltering the homeless didn't end there, said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor.

Castor said it became obvious that a permanent site was needed where homeless residents could shelter in place and receive aid.

According to the Tampa Hillsborough Homeless Initiative, on any given night in the greater Tampa Bay area, there are several thousand homeless men, women and children. These people are sleeping on the streets, behind buildings, in encampments, in cars, emergency shelters and transitional housing.

During the initiative's last Point in Time count of the homeless population on Feb. 24, volunteers and staff counted 534 homeless women and 974 homeless men in Hillsborough County. Of these, 147 were military veterans, 114 were chronically homeless and 151 were families.

In 2021, Hillsborough County saw 3,876 people experiencing homelessness for the first time.

Consequently, the city worked with Catholic Charities to purchase a permanent location for a shelter on Dec. 13, 2021.

Plans are underway to ultimately house 300 people and provide the services needed to allow them to obtain permanent housing and self-sufficiency.

Fundraising is now underway for the $6.6 million needed to open the shelter, including rehabilitating existing structures, acquiring shelter space, new construction and the development of support facilities.

The city and Catholic Charities estimate it will cost $1.3 million to operate the shelter during its first year. The city has pledged $750,000 for operating costs and Catholic Charities has received $2.295 million in additional funding, leaving a need to raise $5.6 million.

In the meantime, the city’s Homeless Advocacy Team helps reach out to people dealing with homelessness and directs them to the resources and wraparound services found at Tampa Hope.

“I am so proud and grateful to be working with Catholic Charities on this compassionate and innovative program to help people along the path to self-sufficiency,” Castor said. “I believe firmly that this city’s success depends on improving the quality of life for every Tampa resident no matter their current economic status. Tampa Hope will improve and save lives.”

“Tampa Hope is a great starting point in helping rebuild lives,” said Maggie Rogers, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. “This is a place where you can stay off the streets and find safety and a true support network to lift you up when you need it most.”

How To Help Tampa Hope This Holiday Season

• Donate by calling 813-333-7269.
• Drop off donations directly to Tampa Hope Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 3704 E. 3rd Ave, Tampa. Call ahead first.
• Other needs include volunteers to deliver meals to 75 residents a day.
• There is a special need for newly purchased bathroom towels, blankets and bed sheets.
• Also needed are donations of bus passes, toiletries, detergent, tissues, clothing, undergarments, rain essentials, shoes, shower sandals, shampoo, soap, pillows, food, drinks, snack, coffee, toilet paper, bowls, cutlery, games and books.
• Click here to access the Amazon wish list.
• The shelter is also in need of a forklift, pallet jack, microwave ovens, hot plates and folding chairs.
• You can also donate cash by texting "tampahope" to 91999.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America since 2020 to help raise awareness in our local communities of hunger, a persistent national problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that 1 in 8 people face hunger. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.