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| May 13, 2008 |
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FAST: ‘Crying out’ for a roof over their headsCatholics advocate for homeless and demand affordable housing for poor at interfaith meeting. 
JAMIE PILARCZYK | FC LARGO | More than 2,400 people came to the meeting to hear their city and county officials take a stand for increased crime protection and to improve school discipline. What got the crowd’s attention, though, was the issue of affordable housing. The FAST Nehemiah Action Assembly’s annual meeting took place April 7 at First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks in Pinellas County. FAST, which stands for “Faith and Action for Strength Together,” is an interdenominational coalition based in Pinellas County that works for social justice by influencing local governing bodies. “We want to make sure they stay committed to these issues,” Joe Magri of St. Cecilia Parish in Clearwater said. “We want them to know we’re still interested.” Catholic member congregations include Holy Cross, Holy Family, Blessed Trinity and St. Joseph in St. Petersburg, Espiritu Santo in Safety Harbor, Most Holy Name of Jesus in Gulfport, St. Cecelia and St. Brendan in Clearwater and St. Matthew in Largo.  JAMIE PILARCZYK | FC One leader speaking out on the housing issue was Bishop Robert N. Lynch, who told the crowd he was so moved by the lack of affordable housing he helped to create Pinellas Hope, a temporary homeless support shelter. Since it opened in Clearwater in December 2007, 408 people have been placed in housing and assisted with jobs and other social services. A collaboration of the Diocese of St. Petersburg’s Catholic Charities, Pinellas County, city governments, Pinellas County Coalition for the Homeless and others, Pinellas Hope’s funding was for a five-month period. When the center closes its doors at the end of April, Bishop Lynch said he wants to see hope for those struggling on the streets. “It’s only a temporary fix and it will be in vain if we cannot create affordable rental housing for those who fall at 30 percent of the median income, who earn $16,000 or less,” he said. Last year, Pinellas County and the municipalities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Largo committed to FAST to create more than 3,000 units of housing over the following three years for families making about $40,000 a year. This represents about 10 percent of the total need. So far, all have made progress toward that goal, with St. Petersburg in the rear. While Pinellas Hope has been a success, FAST members said it has only been a temporary fix. “Our community is still crying out for affordable housing,” the Rev. Willie McClendon of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Largo said. “There is something wrong with the system. The families in our congregation are moving out of Pinellas County. We have a moral obligation to provide affordable housing for our community.” The mayors of Clearwater and Largo were present at the meeting, as were four county commissioners and one St. Petersburg city councilman. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker was not. About half the officials agreed to support funding the county’s affordable housing trust fund, set up from FAST’s efforts in 2006 with at least $5 million for the 2008-09 year, with a majority favoring a mandatory inclusionary zoning ordinance. This guarantees a small percentage of affordable units are available on all new development. “We have not reached the Promised Land, but we have started the exodus,” said FAST co-chairman the Rev. Robert Ward of Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in St. Petersburg. “Every dollar we get for affordable housing brings us closer to the Promised Land.”
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