I have lived a lot of my adult life in inner city housing although I have, at times lives in suburban or what I call edge of city living. I have worked in various setting but frequently in an inner-city setting. For a time I owned an old house which housed my office and an apartment next to a Catholic Community Center which served the homeless. I then moved my office and my house to another inner city location, which was described as a mixed-use neighborhood. The housing that was available was generally for low income, college students with families, those who needed HUD assistance and a few other professional people. Although once I moved from the building next to Catholic Community Service I did not daily see or visit with as many homeless people on a daily basis, I still had frequent contact with the homeless in my neighborhood or near my neighborhood. I also had a varied clientele, which included wealthy to very poor individuals with no income.
When I moved to Florida last August I moved to what I consider a low to middle income over 50 villa community. Most people in the complex own their villa although a few rent. Depending on one’s prior experience one would call these villas very luxurious or very moderate. Compared to how I grew up and what I have lived in a lot of my adult life, I would describe it as luxurious. For the most part, the complex is populated by Caucasians, a few Hispanics and an occasional African American (I am relying mostly on observation and informal discussion). The neighborhood gym I go to is slightly more diverse in terms of age and race. For the most part, however, it seems to be mostly middle class professionals and retired individuals.
I am well aware that there is greater diversity within the county in which I now live, Pinellas County, Florida)
I am now going to present some statistics. Try to remember that each number represents real people with hearts and minds and gifts to share.
Some of the statistics about the populations here are:
Income distribution is – USA.com
Pinellas County Florida U.S.
White $47,872 $50,042 $56,203
Black $31,211, $34,690 $35,564
Hispanic $38,271 $40,860 $41,994
Asian $55,898 $59,979 $71,709
American Indian,$47,153, $39,159 $37,469
USA.com also reports:
4.4 % of the population of Pinellas County Florida residents makes less than $10,000.00 per year.
Total homeless in Pinallas County 5,887
Pinellas county.org
In January 2014, there were 578,424 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in the United States. Of that number, 216,197 are people in families, and 362,163 are individuals. About 15 percent of the homeless population – 84,291 - are considered "chronically homeless” individuals, and About 9 percent of homeless people- 49,933 - are veterans. Endhomelessness.org
One could go on gathering statistics for a long time. One’s mind would soon become overwhelmed with facts. If not careful, however, or perhaps if careful, the numbers are just numbers and not real life people with a history, faces, childhood photos, once and hopefully still loved.
I had been aware for some time that I was living in a very isolated world and not seeing the diversity, which I know, is present in this area. Recently I joined the YMCA in Clearwater. I could do this without additional cost because I now am the grateful owner of a silver sneakers membership At the YMCA I am finding a much more diverse population in terms of race, age, nationality, gender and profession. I have to assume that there is not as much diversity in terms of income. The YMCA is not cheap although some YMCAs do offer assistance to the poor, especially children. My experience over the years is that the YMCA has become a very middle or even upper middle-income health care club. It is also my experience that the YWCA has continued to have many more programs devoted to the homeless or nearly homeless population. The YWCA has also frequently hosted programs such as shelters for abused women and their children. I know of a couple of YMCAs who offer similar services for men although I have not checked recently to see if there are now more of these.
Saturday night I worked out at the YMCA in Clearwater. When I came out I discovered that my car would not start. Being the middle class person I am I whipped out my AAA card. A very nice person came and tried to jump start my car. It would not start. Another person came with a tow truck to take it to the Nissan service center. Riding with him on the way to the Nissan dealer I found out his man and his wife are beginning to recover from being homeless. He did not tell me how he and his wife lost all they had accumulated and became homeless a year or so ago. He did tell me that it was not due to mental illness or addiction, which is sometimes the case. He said that a couple – some angels – had stepped in to help them, giving them a place to live. Some other angel gave he and his wife jobs. They are now rebuilding what they had lost. They are also determined to keep open to opportunities for playing it forward. I needed to hear this story to be reminded that I want and need to find more ways to connect with my extended “family” here in Florida. I have made a few connections, but overall I have felt and been in the very protected cocoon. Although I do continue to provide coaching and addiction services for whatever a person can afford which may be nothing, I know that I could be doing more.
Moving here was a good reminder of how easy it is to get isolated and to ignore important “family” members. Although my income is less than most in this area, the fact that I do have a home which is paid for, no bills, a car which usually works, plenty of food, loving friends, a rich spiritual life and gym memberships puts me in a very privileged class. I do not want to forget how privileged I am and that I, too, could easily be one of the homeless.
I was saying to a friend that it is interesting that the older I get the more it seems as if that verse in the Bible which states that “All things work together for good . . .” is true. I always seem to get what I need to grow spiritually. If the car had not refused to start even with a jump then I would not have met the tow truck driver and would not have heard his story. Then I would not have written this particular blog or researched facts about my extended Florida family here in Pinellas County, Florida
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