A controversial feeding program which spurred a homeless invasion of a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood is moving to a new location less than a mile from the City of Plantation. Last week, HOPE South Florida announced it was suspending services at its Andrews Avenue facility in Fort Lauderdale. According to the group, they provide clothing, showers and 8,000 meals a month to the homeless. The charity blamed complaints from neighbors for the move. “Sadly, the reality in our neighborhoods is that everyone wants to do something for the homeless but just not in their backyard,” Hope South Florida wrote on Facebook.
But, according to the Sun-Sentinel, the issues with Hope South Florida go beyond NIMBY (Not In My Backyard).
“They bring 300 people into our neighborhood to feed them and half of them would stay in the neighborhood,” one neighbor told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “You see homeless people walking down the street heading to HOPE to get breakfast. Kids are walking to Northside Elementary School with the homeless people laid out all over the sidewalk. People are pooping all over. Residents have to come out and wash down their sidewalks.”
The same neighbor described dangerous encounters with the homeless.
“People ask for money and when they don’t get it, they threaten you,” she told the Sun Sentinel. “There was a guy living in a tree behind my house. I was working out in my living room. I looked out of the window and I saw this guy staring back at me. Now I’m afraid to let my sons play in the backyard. I don’t even have safety in my own home.”
The neighbor was even forced to call the police when a homeless man threatened to kill her husband.
“It was a very scary situation,” she said. “The police came and could not get him to leave. He did not get arrested. The police urged him to move along. The guy finally moved down the street.”
Now, just days before a new homeless law goes into effect, HOPE South Florida announced it was relocating to homeless feeding facility in Lauderhill.
LIFENET 4 FAMILIES
HOPE South Florida said it plans on continuing showers, mail services and meals for the homeless at the Lifenet4Families facility in Lauderhill. Officially known as as the Cooperative Feeding Program, Lifenet4Familes offers clothing, social services and meal services from its location on West Broward Boulevard.
Lifenet4Familes is less than one mile from the Gateway Seven corridor and numerous Plantation neighborhoods. Large numbers of homeless individuals can been seen gathering near this gated facility on a daily basis.
What happens when Hope South Florida starts bringing homeless people to this new location?
This is the latest example of Fort Lauderdale’s desire to relocate its homeless population to its border with Plantation.
BROADVIEW PARK
Two weeks ago, REDBROWARD exposed Fort Lauderdale’s plan to build a homeless encampment near Plantation. Fort Lauderdale staff floated a plan to build 100 small pallet homes in the Broadview Park neighborhood. This neighborhood in unincorporated Broward County sits across the street from the Fort Lauderdale Country Club and numerous Plantation neighborhoods.
Broward County Commissioner Steve Geller was quick to oppose the encampment plan. Plantation Mayor Nick Sortal also voiced his displeasure.
Now, another homeless problem in the City of Fort Lauderdale suddenly moves closer to Plantation.
Both Hope South Florida and Lifenet4Families enjoy the support of private business and government entities.
Homeless individuals have already caused issues in the Gateway Seven corridor. According to social media posts, the Wawa gas station at Broward Boulevard and State Road 7 removed its outdoor seating due to problems with the homeless.
Just a few miles west, the homeless population continues to thrive at the Broward County West Regional campus.
Will Mayor Nick Sortal stand up to these influential groups to protect Plantation and its residents?
Will Sortal allow Fort Lauderdale’s homeless problem to threaten Plantation residents and businesses?
