TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Until the coronavirus hit, Cyntia Redd had a job at a nice hotel in downtown Tampa.
Then the shutdown came and she was laid off, with no place to go.
WHAT TO KNOW:
- Florida is reporting 85,926 cases and 3,061 deaths
- Florida in Phase Two of reopening
- Cases have spiked in past week, Gov. DeSantis says due to increased testing
Now, she’s living in a tent at Hillsborough Hope.
It’s a temporary facility set up by Catholic Charities to help the homeless.
“I’m pretending like I’m on vacation. Just have to be patient and strong,” said Redd.
Hillsborough Hope has 100 tents with more than 100 people living there from day to day.
“We have a line every single morning of people hoping there is a bed available for them,” said Maggie Rogers with Catholic Charities.
As the pandemic was just beginning to unfold, Rogers says the city of Tampa came to them and asked if they could help set up something for the homeless population in the county.
“As businesses close, Their access to resources, such as restrooms, showers, meals, laundry are diminishing,” said Rogers.
They’ve set up the tents, a portable unit with showers and bathrooms and a laundry facility.
They have food for the people staying there, but their resources are stretched very thin.
They are also working to make sure the virus is not spread within their population.
“So we have the tables spread out, so that we have no more than four chairs at every table. Staff are walking around all day, so we have cleaning staff here from 6:30 in the morning until 10 in the evening,” said Rogers.
Right now they have a need for clothes, food, toiletry items, beds, sheets and blankets.
They are accepting donations at 2021 E. Busch Boulevard on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
For more information you can check out their website.
LATEST ON THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC:
- Going against FDA, Florida Surgeon General discourages use of mRNA COVID vaccines
- Lakeland Regional Health sees COVID-19 and flu cases double over the holidays
- Cruise passengers win class action lawsuit against Carnival after deadly COVID outbreak
- Say goodbye to the COVID vaccine card: The CDC has stopped printing them
- COVID conspiracies return in force, just in time for 2024