One Stop Shop Kicks Off for Homeless Veterans

Local agencies in Tampa Bay are partnering on Wednesday to get homeless veterans off the streets.

Tampa Police Officer Dan McDonald and Deputy Steven Donaldson have been working to identify homeless veterans, and will provide many of them with a ride to the event at Lykes Gaslight Park. Veteran's Affairs counselors will then help qualified veterans fill out housing voucher applications, organize their military paperwork, assess their needs for mental health and substance abuse counseling and other services.

The goal is to provide a path toward permanent housing and end the cycle of chronic homelessness for those who have served our country.

The event is from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sept. 18 at the park, 410 N. Franklin Street. The Tampa Police Department, sheriff's office homeless liaisons, the Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County and the Department of Veteran's Affairs are working together on the initiative.

While this event focuses on homeless veterans, the organizers are also
reaching out to the chronic homeless living on Tampa's streets.  Counselors
will be assessing their needs and trying to match them with available services
and housing options.

- Andrea Davis, public information officer for the Tampa Police Department