Group continues showers for homeless

FORT LAUDERDALE — A Christian group will continue offering outdoor showers to homeless people, after Fort Lauderdale commissioners resolved a code enforcement issue.

The city had ordered a stop to the mobile showering in August. The nonprofit HOPE South Florida put the showers on hold briefly until it could obtain a special event permit. The 90-day permit was renewed Tuesday night.

The city is attempting a new approach to the homeless problem, with help from the county, nonprofits and local businesses. Fort Lauderdale officials also Tuesday agreed to contribute $800,000 to the United Way toward a new “rapid re-housing” and supportive services program aimed at eliminating a homeless encampment downtown.

The city had temporarily shut off the showers in August, saying they weren’t allowed under city codes. The Christian-based HOPE South Florida runs a homeless feeding program, and added the free showers in April 2017.

“A shower is a way of giving people a little sense of dignity.”Jeff Weinberger, a homeless activist, said at the time the showering was halted.

County commissioners — often at odds with the city on the issue of homeless — were critical of the city’s decision to turn off the showers. They passed a resolution in August urging the city to allow the homeless showers to continue “without requiring an extensive application and approval process.”

Nevertheless, the city required HOPE South Florida to obtain a $200 special event certificate. The approval is for showering from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on nine dates in December, nine dates in January and eight dates in February. City Manager Lee Feldman said they’ll need a new permit every 90 days.

The showers are offered at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church at 318 NW 6th Ave, and at the Vision of Hope Family and Worship Center at 1100 N. Andrews Ave.

The North Andrews property already was permitted as a feeding center for the homeless and a food distribution center.

The city’s sometimes harsh response to people helping the homeless has brought international publicity. The city has arrested people feeding the homeless, and brought front-end loaders to a homeless encampment to toss trash and belongings.

Assistant City Manager Chris Lagerbloom, recently selected for the city manager job, said the city and county are cooperating now to find housing for the 75 to 80 people living outside the Main Library downtown, off Broward Boulevard between Andrews and First avenues. He said the county has installed an “incident command system” to work at the camp daily, finding housing for each willing person.

“It’s all focused on finding an exit strategy through housing,” Lagerbloom said.

After years with a persistent homeless problem, the business community, non-profits, courts and local government teamed up recently to put the chronically homeless people into housing with services.

Commissioner Ben Sorensen set up a makeshift office in the camp in order to focus attention on the problem.

“We’ll soon see the elimination of the encampment,” Mayor Dean Trantalis said Tuesday. “Just keep our fingers crossed. The best of intentions are being fulfilled.”