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, coordinated approach could reduce hospital and jail costs tied to repeated emergency use. Commissioners and nonprofit leaders emphasized the need to coordinate providers, the school district, and potential landowners before deciding on county funding or a county‑owned site.

Details from the presentation and public comments - Maggie Rogers told the board Catholic Charities operates multiple shelters and permanent supportive‑housing projects and now provides services in Citrus County; she said Catholic Charities has 18 permanent units in Citrus County and is seeking to expand. Rogers said the Tampa and Pinellas models combine on‑site medical care, daily case management, meals and transportation and that Catholic Charities operates outreach teams to verify county residency before offering services. - Daystar’s Anne Marie Brierchak described an individual who used Daystar wraparound services and became stably housed and employed, and said homeless people often need different solutions — rapid rehousing for some, low‑barrier emergency shelter and long‑term supportive housing for others. - United Way of Citrus County CEO George Schmalsig and representatives of local faith groups, the sanctuary mission, Basics United (cold‑weather shelter) and Mid Florida Homeless Coalition urged a communitywide conversation. Mid Florida Homeless Coalition said local homelessness is driven primarily by life circumstances rather than substance abuse, which affects which interventions will work. - Concerns raised: some commissioners and commenters warned against the county picking winners by providing recurring operating stipends to a single nonprofit; Commissioner Janet Barrick and others noted many local nonprofits already run programs and said private donors or the diocese could develop property. Several members of the public urged faster action and affordable housing mandates for new developments.

Board reaction and next steps The board did not vote to fund a specific project at the meeting. Commissioners agreed to schedule a community workshop to bring providers, Citrus County School District representatives, Catholic Charities, Daystar, Mid Florida Homeless Coalition, law enforcement, the United Way and other partners together. Commissioners said the workshop should clarify: who would run any facility; what land is available (county, school district, diocese or private); whether models would be low‑barrier emergency shelter, family shelter, or housing‑first/rental assistance; what public‑private funding could look like; and what constraints (zoning, codes, residency verification) would apply.

What they said - Commissioner Holly Davis, who requested the presentation, said the meeting was intended to start a conversation and explore locations and partnerships rather than to seek immediate county dollars. "This is just to start a conversation," she told the board. - Commissioner Diana Finnegan and Commissioner Janet Barrick both said the county should avoid ad hoc operating stipends to individual nonprofits but could participate in coordinated planning and fundraising. Barrick noted Catholic Charities and others already own or control land and programs in the county.

Ending: The board asked staff to coordinate a workshop and to compile a short list of possible participants and information (beds/units available, shelter types, current waiting lists, residency verification processes and potential landowners). Several providers offered to share program metrics and costs in advance of the workshop so the board and public can evaluate tradeoffs and next steps.