County hears pitch from Catholic Charities and Daystar; commissioners agree to broader workshop on homelessness

Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg and Daystar Life Center described tent‑camp, cottage and supportive‑housing models used in Pinellas, Tampa and Pasco counties and urged Citrus County commissioners to begin coordinated planning to address homelessness in the county.

The presentation, requested by Commissioner Holly Davis, outlined Tampa General and Pinellas/Tampa Hope programs that combine shelter, daily case management and a pathway into permanent housing. Catholic Charities’ executive director Maggie Rogers described games‑changed elements used in their operations — daily case management, on‑site medical respite, employment services and a model of temporary living (tents, containers, “Hope Cottages”) tied to permanent supportive housing. Daystar’s executive director Anne Marie Brierchak and other local providers gave examples of Citrus residents who benefited from wraparound services and urged a locally tailored plan.

Why it matters: commissioners, providers and residents said Citrus County has gaps between existing services and current need. Presenters cited the county’s existing sheltered and unsheltered population counts and described how a centralized,…