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r 0 600K i -10 FACE P,-, 5 B.A.I. CHAIRMAN KENNETH R. MACHT - COUNTY TASK FORCE TO DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS SITUATION - RICHARD A. STARK - COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS The Board reviewed a letter from Richard A. Stark of July 20, 1999: RICHARD A. STARK Tel. 561-2314831 340 Palmetto Point Fax 361-231-0397 Vero Beach, FL 32963 S. P— l�' (� �1, July 20,'1994 Kenneth R Macht, Chairman of Board of County Co or i� e Indian River County Administration Building 1840 25e Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960 Dear Chairman Macht: As you noticed. T was in atten3a ce at the Boards's meeting on July 15, 1999 when the question of budget grant to the Coalition for the Homeless was considered. I have recently become interested in the plight of the hotmcless in Indian River County. I was disappointed in the Staffs cursory review and recommendation that the Coalition's request for a $50,000 grant be rejected. Staffs recommendation was apparently not based on a review of the merits, but on an understanding that last year's giant of $50,000 was a one time grant, thus, prestunably, barring any future grant no matter what the grits aught be. Your motion that the matter be referred back to the Staff for further study and rxcommmdationi was entirely appropriate. In looking at the problem for the first time, T am somewhat mystified by our community's response to the Homeless Problem in Indian River County. I would have expected that the County Commissioners would have a great interest in the problem and would accept major responsibility for dealing with it. However, at the heating, the Commissioners seemed critical of the Coalition's efforts and expressed only grudging interest in helping the Coalition, while offering no alternative solutions for dealing with the Homeless Problem. This apathy, or perhaps even dewire to deny the existence of the problem, is not confined to the County Conunissioners. I we little evidence that the City of Vero Beach or other municipalities or government agencies in Indian River County have much interest in the Homeless Problem Even the Churches in the County seem to have a low level of interest! Homelessness is a complex problem, which T do not profess to understand. The steps that a community should take to address the Homeless Problem are not obvious. The proper balancing of the respective roles of government, churches and private charitable organizations is not at all clear. History suggests that the problem cannot be elirminated. but that does not mean that we should give up. There are constructive measures that communities, including governments, churches and private charities throughout the USA are taking. We should be able to do more than we are doing now to address the Homeless Problem in our community. As you know, I have been able to interest the Dorothea L. Leonhardt f nily in making substantial gifts to our community from their foundation funds, including particularly the Center for the Arts (of which I am the current Chairman of the Board) and Riverside Theatre. The plight of the Homeless has come to our attention and we are seeking opportunities for effective charitable giving to alleviate the problem. It is difficult to know where to start in view of the current disarray in dealing with the problem in our commumity. I believe there are others who would be interested in contributing to dealing with the problem if an orderly plan could be developed My belief is that there is an important opportunity at hand to bring together the Board Of County Commissioners, local churches, private charities and potential private donors to address the Homeless Problem. AUGUST 3, 1999 -58- •