Latest news with #EricGray
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump proposal threatens key money to Central Florida's homelessness fight, advocates say
The Trump Administration is aiming to transform how homeless services are funded by slashing budgets, distributing money to states instead of local agencies, and ending a program that houses previously unsheltered people with disabilities. Orlando-based providers of those services fear such a wholesale change would be a major setback, not only by making fewer dollars available for initiatives with a proven track record, but also by bringing more state government influence into how the money is spent. 'This is worst-case scenario stuff for homeless services,' said Eric Gray, the CEO of the Christian Service Center in downtown Orlando. The proposal was detailed in the Trump administration's Fiscal Year 2026 budget request released May 30. Such White House budget plans act mostly as indications of an administration's priorities, with Congress ultimately in charge of funding via spending bills. But so far, as the controversial 'Big, Beautiful Bill' passed by the House has shown, the GOP-led Congress has mostly deferred to White House priorities on budgeting. Overall, the plan calls for about a 12% cut in overall funding, but also upends how that money can be spent. For example, the administration is calling for a 51% cut to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, slashing more than $45 billion to the agency that oversees the nation's affordable housing and homelessness efforts, according to Enterprise, a national affordable housing nonprofit. Federal money for homeless programs has typically been distributed to localized 'continuums of care' such as the Central Florida Commission on Homelessness, which oversees the distribution and spending in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. But the administration instead wants to send more restricted funds to state governments to oversee. In previous years, local continuums received funding through a competitive grant process, for which the Orlando region has scored among the highest in the nation, meaning more money came here. If the money were distributed instead to states based on population, local officials fear they would lose out. Federal money accounts for about 75% of the Orlando continuum's $28 million budget, though it's unclear exactly how much local providers would be in line to lose. Among other parts of the Trump administration's proposal are ending funding for permanent supportive housing, a program that has housed the chronically homeless and disabled for decades. Nationwide, 300,000 people have their rent covered by the program, and in Central Florida that includes as many as 1,600 chronically homeless and people with disabilities. Martha Are, the CEO of the Homeless Services Network of Central Florida, said about half of those clients are veterans. 'We're talking about people, many of whom are just shy of institutionalization,' she said. 'These are not people who are likely to be able to work full-time or not work to the level to afford their housing.' It also would end long-term rental assistance programs, capping all rental assistance at two years. Advocates say covering somebody's rent is a successful way to help them find employment or maintain a job and ultimately reach self-sufficiency. The federal proposal would slash disbursements to continuums of care and instead issue money to states as Emergency Solutions Grants, which are more restrictive. For instance, those grants are allowed to be used for street outreach and shelter operations, Are said, but cannot be used for the region's youth homelessness initiative called 'Brighter Days,' or for regional planning and coordination. 'Right now when we need as many tools in our toolbox as possible, it would be unfortunate to lose some of the ones we know are most effective,' she said. Homelessness nationwide has reached record levels, though it was flat year-over-year in Central Florida. But since 2022, the number of people unsheltered – those who sleep outside, under bridges, in vehicles and other areas – has spiked 156% in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. Such increases are part of why some conservatives think it's time to reform how the nation confronts homelessness, while local advocates maintain a lack of apartments available at affordable rents are to blame. It's unclear if the Trump proposal will ultimately clear Congress. But the plan reflects policies sought by conservatives for years and by Trump administration officials dating back to his first presidency, said Devon Kurtz, the public safety policy director for the Cicero Institute. Cicero is a right-leaning think tank founded by tech investor and prominent Trump donor Joe Lonsdale. The group was influential in pitching and convincing Florida leaders to pass a ban on public camping last year, and Kurtz said it has distributed research to the administration on policy ideas similar to the proposals. It published a policy brief backing such policies Thursday. He argued that around the country, continuums of care aren't accountable to voters and are an obstacle to reform efforts. 'Even if this bill is not successful, these changes are coming,' Kurtz said in an interview. 'By this time next year, I don't see any way where this program looks like it does now – it's only a matter of time.' State control of homelessness dollars would provide more accountability, he argued. But Gray said the regional cooperation and planning that could be lost has been critical to his agency's success. In 2020, he said the Christian Service Center 'rescued' six people from homelessness. That number improved yearly to reach1,243 last year. Among common methods used are paying people's rents — many either simultaneously find jobs or are already employed — or paying for plane, bus or train tickets allowing individuals to be reunited with family out of town. 'You're taking away this efficiency,' he said. 'The idea that we wouldn't be able to do that and neither would the other 54 agencies in the partnership boggles the mind.' rygillespie@
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Charges dismissed against Trumbull man accused of illegally dumping animal carcasses
WILTON, Conn. (WTNH) – Charges were dismissed against a Trumbull man who police accused of dumping dead animal carcasses in Wilton in March 2023, according to court documents. Eric Gray had faced three counts of illegal dumping. According to court documents, the charges were dismissed in January 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The latest solution for Orlando's homeless shelter shortage? Buses.
Faced with fast-rising homelessness and a shortage of shelter beds, Orlando officials are eyeing a mobile solution. They're considering buying two former Greyhound buses, with bunkbeds replacing seats to house up to 20 people in each. The buses go for $175,000 each, with operations expected to cost about $1 million annually. The buses would be parked each night at the Christian Service Center, a Parramore facility that currently provides food and services to the homeless but no shelter. Its case managers would select and vet 40 people per night to use the bunks as they await more permanent housing. 'It's brilliant in its simplicity,' said Eric Gray the CEO of the Christian Service Center. The proposal is expected to go in front of the Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board on Feb. 26. The City Council would consider it on March 24. If the plan is approved, the buses could be ready for guests this summer. 'The day these buses get here, we can potentially have 40 people who had been previously sleeping on the streets, the sidewalks and under I-4 in some a safe place,' said Samantha Levine, who oversees homelessness initiatives for the city. 'That not only has a positive impact on the community but also could be life-changing for those individuals.' The city would purchase the buses with Accelerate Orlando funds, using money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The CRA would provide the needed $1 million annually, covering operations and other expenses. The buses would be retrofitted in Vero Beach, by a homeless service agency called The Source. It operates three of its own and has also created shelter buses for cities in Rhode Island and Illinois. In Vero, The Source provides more than 13,000 nights of shelter annually on buses, said Anthony Zorbaugh, the executive director. 'People who are on the street are exhausted. By the time they get their bed, they want to sleep,' he said. 'If you had to provide 13,000 hotel rooms at $150 a night, the social return on this bus is astronomical.' Under Orlando's program, each night of shelter is expected to cost taxpayers $78.60, per person. The Source brought one of its so-called 'Dignity Buses' to Orlando this week to allow city officials, non-profits and other community leaders to tour. On board, beds are stacked two high. Each sleeping area has a power outlet and a light. On the back of the vehicle is a large restroom. One of Orlando's buses — here they'll be dubbed '407 Connect' — would have a wheelchair lift, which comes at the sacrifice of one of the beds. The bedding is washed each day and the vehicle can be parked and powered by an electrical plug-in. It's staffed by a security attendant, who also can drive the bus if needed. 'I think it actually exceeded my expectations,' said the Rev. Robert Spooney, a pastor at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Parramore. 'It's a lot better than the sleeping cars in my era when we used to travel on trains.' Such shelter options are needed as local governments grapple with a state law requiring them to clear encampments. In the Orlando region, officials estimate a shortage of about 1,000 shelter beds to provide safe places to sleep for people outside. Advocates have feared the law, which went into effect Jan. 1, would force them to haul homeless people to jail. In January, Orlando was the only government in the region to make arrests, charging 25 people listed as 'transient' with camping violations. Standing up a new shelter is costly and takes time – and nearly always faces harsh neighborhood blowback. In Orlando, the city proposed a new shelter in Washington Shores, then swiftly abandoned the idea after neighbors had harsh criticisms. Now the city is pursuing a new shelter at the county's former Work-Release Center on Kaley Street. The building will require costly renovations, and already, some neighbors from about a mile away are campaigning against the effort. Orlando Health, which runs a nearby children's hospital, has also opposed it. A benefit of the buses is they can be relocated if they ever become a significant subject of complaints, said David Barilla, the executive director of the CRA. 'It's mobile enough that if that ever becomes an issue, it's just a bus key away from moving it to another location,' Barilla said. For years, Mayor Buddy Dyer and other city officials have advocated for other local governments in the area to provide shelters of their own – or help to fund beds. But so far, none have done so, leaving the majority of the region's shelter beds in Parramore. Barilla hopes to use the bus to take that message on the road and show other cities in the area more cost-effective shelter options. 'It's something we think smaller communities can take steps in the right direction and lock arms with us to make an impact,' he said. rygillespie@
