Pasco County hosting series of town hall meetings on homelessness

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. — It has been a growing issue throughout the country and one that hits close to Tampa Bay.

Homelessness has become a cause for discussion, even in Pasco County. The local government is asking to hear from residents to help reduce the trend in a series of town halls with the first taking place Tuesday night.

Pasco County says they want to find out how homelessness is impacting neighborhoods, communities and businesses. But it all starts with hearing from residents. That’s the reason behind this series of town hall meetings the county will host; first tonight and again next Tuesday.

The Board of County Commissioners is working on their 2025-2030 strategic plan and the goal is to make homelessness rare, brief and non-existent. The county says they want to hear which services and facilities are working and which of those services still need some work. Residents are invited to either attend in-person or fill out an online survey.

“I hope to see education around the topic of homelessness so that we can create a response external to county government, local county government, but all-inclusive with our citizens, our not-for-profits, our public safety sector,” says Brian Hobin, Pasco County Director of Community Services. “It needs to be an all-hands-on-deck response for us to be able to make a difference in homelessness.”

And Hobin says Pasco County has already opened what they call a low barrier shelter through Pasco Hope. They will be in attendance for tonight’s meeting.

The first town hall takes place tonight at the West Pasco Government Center in the boardroom starting at 5:30 p.m. Another town hall is scheduled for next Tuesday, Sept. 30, at the Saint Leo University Wellness Center at 5:30 p.m.