Fort Myers city council, local advocate discuss real solutions to homelessness

How do we reduce homelessness in SWFL?

Fox 4 spoke with a Fort Myers city councilwoman and local advocate to get answers.

OUT OF THE MANDATE, AND KIDSUNDER 9 YEARS OLD WON’T BEREQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK.LEE COUNTY SAYS ON ANY GIVEN DAYIN OUR AREA...THERE ARE ABOUT 3-THOUSAND PEOPLE ON THESTREETS...WITHOUT A HOME.IT’S AN ISSUE THAT WAS BROUGHTUP AT LAST NIGHT’S FORT MYERSCOUNCIL MEETING.AND TODAY...4 IN YOUR CORNER’SROCHELLE ALLEYNE SPOKE TO A CITYLEADER AND LOCAL ADVOCATE ABOUTSOME SOLUTIONS.(08-12)(44-48"I see young people, middlepeople and older people that areall homeless.

They are a partour community and this issomething we need to attend toright now."FORT MYERS COUNCILWOMAN TEROLYNWATSON SAYS IT’S TIME GET FOLKSOFF THE STREETS."From my opinion it’s a very bigissue."THAT BIG ISSUE...AND A SPECIFICNAME THAT COULD HELP FIX THEISSUE... WAS BROUGHT UP ATMONDAY NIGHT’S CITY COUNCILMEETING..."I think we need to get in touchwith Ramona Miller, becauseshe’s very active with thehomeless people.

That’s theperson we need to get in touchwith.""Exactly."TODAY WE TRACKED DOWN MILLER...ALOCAL HOMELESS AND ANTI-HUMANTRAFFICKING ADVOCATE...TO TALKABOUT WAYS WE CAN END ...OR ATLEAST REDUCE HOMELESSNESS INSOUTHWEST FLORIDA.The first thing we need to do isbring all parties to the table."RIGHT NOW...THE COUNTY TAKES OTHE LION SHARE OFRESPONSIBILITY IN THISAREA...AND THE MONEY....RECORDSHOW IT WAS AWARDED ALMOST 7MILLION DOLLARS LAST YEAR TOFIGHT HOMELESSNESS.BUT MILLER SAYS THEY’LL NEED TOBUILD A PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCCITIES, ORGANIZATIONS ANDPEOPLE... TO HELP BETTERDISTRIBUTE THOSE DOLLARS..."People are homeless for alltypes of reasonsSHE SAYS THE NEXT POINT OFACTION...IS BUILDING BETTERRELATIONSHIPS WITH THOSE WHOSTRUGGLE WITH HOMELESSNESS...TOUNDERSTAND WHO THEY ARE...ANDWHY THEY’RE OUT THERE."Are we dealing with those whoare voluntary?

Or those who areinvoluntary?

Are we dealing withthose who suffer from mentalhealth issues?

Undiagnosed ountreated?MILLER ADDS THAT TACKLING THISISSUE WILL IN TURN HELP CUT DOWNON THINGS LIKE HUMAN TRAFFICKIAND OPIOID ADDICTION IN OURAREA.."Once we get a griphomelessness we’ll be able toeliminate, eradicate and endlot of the other problems."AND AFTER LAST NIGHT’SDISCUSSION....THESE ARE THE NESTEPS THAT COUNCILWOMAN WATSONSAYS SHE WANTS THE CITY *ANDCOUNTY TO TAKE..."The first thing we need to dois find a location space.

Thsecond thing we need to do isthe funds.

The funds are there,they’re out there and we need to