As the homeless population grows in Pasco County so does the need for services.
The homeless liaison at Pasco County Schools, Erika Remsberg, says she has to refer people out of the county every day for services. However, on Thursday a new program began that could help thousands of hungry families in the county.
“It was really scary,” said Erica, a former client of Metropolitan Ministries. Erica, who asked us to not use her last name, knows what it’s like to struggle. She’s a single mother of two, who was unemployed for some time.
“There is always a possibility of separation of the family,” said Erica.
With no luck in the job market, her family could have become homeless. That’s where Metropolitan Ministries stepped in.
“We have literally about twelve thousand 12,000 people a year coming through our outreach center,” said Reverend Dan Campbell, of Metropolitan Ministries.
That’s why two years ago the charity group started working on a kitchen to serve hot meals.
According to Remsberg there are nearly 1,500 families throughout the county who are homeless. Of those families there are over 2,600 children.
In the new kitchen the ministry can provide up to 2,000 meals a day -- eventually going mobile all over the county.
“Cook the food here, transport it, and we’re able to do that for a $1.66 a meal,” said Reverend Campbell.
This will also help get people into the doors of the church for help. Erica says the ministry was able to help her find a job.
“Today I’m raising my children in our home,” said Erica.
She would have continued being a client, but now will likely become a volunteer.
The church will be serving meals Tuesday and Saturday nights as well as Sunday mornings. It expects to expand the number of days the kitchen is open in the near future.
The church is also in the process of getting approval to break ground on twenty four units of transitional housing for families. It will be the first shelter specifically for families in the county.