HUDSON, Fla. — A homeless shelter in Pasco County has just a few days left until they’re forced to move. The founder, however, says they has nowhere to go.
- Holy Ground Homeless Shelter open nearly 30 years
- Holy Ground only Pasco shelter that takes in homeless people without ID
- County asked property owner for extension of deadline, no response yet
- More Pasco County stories
The Holy Ground Homeless Shelter in Hudson has been open for nearly 30 years. But now the landowner wants to sell the property.
Founder Lisa Barabas-Henry is preparing to leave, packing boxes and turning people away. She only has about 20 residents staying there now.
“My first phone call I that had to say 'no' to was to a mother and two children," Barabas-Henry told us. "She was crying and I was crying with her. I have never said 'no' in 27 years.”
According to Barabas-Henry, the property owner gave her two months notice to leave. That deadline is this weekend.
“We can’t go anywhere but the street. I don’t know what else to do,” Barabas-Henry said.
The ongoing controversy has even caused donations to stop coming in, leaving food shelves empty.
“People who normally give are hesitant because they think it’s closed," she said. "We’re not closed, we just have to move it.”
Barabas-Henry said she does now have another location in mind. She can’t move in until the end of January, however, to get all of her finances in order.
Pasco County even helped out. The County Commission sent a letter to the property owner asking for an extension. They have not received a response yet.
Barabas-Henry is determined to continue the shelter as long as she can.
“I believe in all this. It’s the 'Calcutta in Hudson,' I call it," Barabas-Henry said. "Mother Theresa gave love. That’s all I do.”
The property owner did not respond to a phone call for comment.
Holy Ground is the only shelter in Pasco County that takes in homeless people without any ID or paperwork.