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New Location Sought To Feed Homeless

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By MICHAEL H. SAMUELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2007

DOWNTOWN - A South Tampa church is looking for a new place to feed the homeless.

For the past year, New Beginnings Christian Church, 4100 S. Manhattan Ave., has been hosting its homeless outreach program one Saturday a month at a parking lot at the southwest corner of Jefferson and Cass streets. Other churches use the lot on the other Saturdays.

But the churches have been told they must take their tables, trailers and meals elsewhere.

'I'm on a crusade,' said David Michael Ingram, who runs the New Beginnings program with Jerry Carlson. 'I'm taking it on my own to find a new space.'

The site, which the church uses for free, is owned by Conner Properties, records show. But Carlson said the land has been sold, prompting the request for the churches to move.

The church has been feeding the homeless downtown for about two years and also had to leave its previous spot near Kennedy Boulevard.

Carlson said about 130 people are served a breakfast of bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy, sandwiches, coffee, tea, lemonade and fruit. The church also provides breakfast leftovers for supper.

'The problem is not going to go away,' he said. 'We need to deal with it.'

Carlson said only a few downtown lots remain because of condominium development. He said he has been told condo associations and developers don't want the homeless around their property.

He said the churches might have to move 10 or 15 blocks out of downtown to find a site.

Carlson said he's tired of moving.

'We're trying to get one spot where we can set up,' he said.

Reporter Michael H. Samuels can be reached at (813) 835-2109 or msamuels@tampatrib.com.

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