Resident urges city-backed coalition to address homelessness near Broadwater property; council schedules focused workshop

A Biloxi resident and neighborhood organizer, Bob Silvestro, used his council time to describe long-running concerns about homelessness affecting the Broadwater property area and nearby neighborhoods and to offer to lead a community coalition.

Silvestro described personal time and money invested in his home and neighborhood efforts, recounted outreach to police and code entities, and said he has organized neighbors and volunteers. “I personally would like to take responsibility with my neighbors ... and I really think if I work hard, I could find the funding, the location, the people,” Silvestro told the council.

He urged city help on a range of measures — from encouraging rehabilitation of long-empty homes for use by homeless veterans to pursuing accountability for rental properties he described as substandard. He also said neighbors want clear communication when land-use or clinic proposals affect their area, and he asked council members for leadership and better coordination.

Council members stressed that a focused workshop would be held that evening to gather questions, ideas and next steps. Councilman Grimes and others described the session as a starting point to move beyond three-minute public comments and to collect community input for possible recurring meetings. Council members emphasized that the workshop was not a final solution but the beginning of a process to capture ideas and identify actions.

No formal council action was recorded at the meeting on Silvestro’s proposals; staff and council members said further conversation would take place at the scheduled workshop and in subsequent committee meetings.