Homelessness
We will have two opportunities to hear about the federal government’s “All In” strategy to reduce homelessness by 25% by 2025.
Why this matters: Escambia County and the City of Pensacola have struggled to deal with the issue for over a decade. The most recent – and maybe the most accurate ever – Point-in-Time Count recorded 1,180 homeless individuals in the two-county area, a 62% jump from last year and the highest number since 2007.
- The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners, Pensacola City Council, and Mayor D.C. Reeves will hold a joint workshop on Tuesday, May 9 at 9:30 a.m. at the Bayview Community Resource Center, 2000 E. Lloyd St. Dr. Joe Savage, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, will present “All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness.” The meeting will be live-streamed on the Escambia County YouTube page at youtube.com/@EscambiaCountyFL.
- Dr. Savage will also represent at CivicCon from 6-7:30 p.m. tonight at the REX Theatre. To register for this free event, visit this link. Can’t be there in person? The event will also be streamed live on the Pensacola News Journal Facebook page.
Children’s Trust
The Escambia Children’s Trust has its monthly meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the Commission Chambers, Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, 221 Palafox Place (Agenda)
Why this matters: The Trust has over $17.3 million in its bank account to be spent on educational, preventive, developmental, treatment, intervention, and rehabilitative services for Escambia County children.
- In February, the board approved spending $5.1 million on 19 out-of-school programs. The executive reports the trust has 18 signed contracts; staff has completed nine site visits; and there have been documentation issues with $100K in reimbursement requests.
- Two providers submitted applications to run the Trust’s Help Me Grow initiative that the board has budgeted $1.6 million to launch.
- The Children’s Summit scheduled for June has been canceled and will be replaced with “targeted, stand-alone professional development opportunities.”
- The first strategic planning meeting will be held on June 13, at the Bayview Community Center, 2000 E Lloyd St.
- Three proposed staff hires – Community Engagement Coordinator, Program Compliance Specialist, and Grant Accountant – have been tabled.
Less Political, More Fun
Makers Market: Spring Fling Celebration
Enjoy an afternoon of shopping, food trucks, and kids’ activities at Cordova Square with more than 40 craft and farm vendors 3-6 p.m., Tuesday, May 9, at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave.
Vino Magnifico
The next Vino Magnifico is Tuesday, May 9, at V. Paul’s, 29 S. Palafox. Tickets are $15. RSVP is required. Reserve your spot at vpauls.com.
Second Tuesday Themed Trivia
Visit Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St., for themed trivia nights on the second Tuesday of the month from 7-9 p.m. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.
Tuesday Night Jazz at Seville Quarter
Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious Allen and The Funk Heads every Tuesday night at Lili Marlene’s in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.
Once again, The road to hell is paved with what vaguely resembles good intentions.
Lets make sure all the administrative costs, like salaries and benefit packages are in place. It’s only been 21/2 years in the making. I wonder how much of the ad velorum taxes have been spent to date on Children’s Trust overhead? If I’m not mistaken, there are numerous subcommittees directed by historically failed ‘Directors’. Some are masters at creating rabbit holes…
That meeting format was so deeply disappointing and pointless. :(
What was the purpose of getting the BCC and the Council Members together to sit them down like children and listen to a presentation?
What a squandering of a precious opportunity. With that format, the talk might as well have just been recorded and passed off in a podcast. If I were a Council Member or Commissioner, I would not be happy having my time wasted like that. Who on earth was the decider on that awkward mess?
The sad thing is, it will probably be a cold day now for another opportunity for a joint meeting. Thank you to everyone who worked really hard to make it happen, including Wes Moreno. It’s really a shame that their efforts weren’t better rewarded.