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Residents urge Sanford to restore homelessness prevention funding after program changes
Summary
Speakers at the July 27 meeting pressed the commission to restore a previously budgeted 2% homelessness prevention line and said local shelters and services lost support; staff said public services grant applications remain open but federal eligibility rules pose limits.
Multiple residents used the public-comment portion of the meeting to urge the commission to restore homeless-prevention funding they said had been removed from the proposed budget. Lovely Beeman, who identified herself as a Sanford native, said the city had eliminated a 2% allocation previously used to support services including washers, dryers and transportation for sheltered clients and asked the city to “rise up” to address homelessness.
Nicole Osburn, Director of Community Relations and Neighborhood Development, told the commission staff is coordinating with Seminole County and that while the city’s public services grant remains open for homeless services, federal rules under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act limit benefits for certain noncitizen categories and require vetting of recipients. City attorney and staff said they are reviewing grant eligibility and will continue to work with local partners, and residents urged clearer funding decisions and more direct support for shelters and outreach.
