As the City of Tampa’s Homeless Outreach Team marks its third anniversary, it has helped more than 200 individuals and families, including most recently a family of five with three young children.
After back-to-back hurricanes devastated their rental property, the Best family was left without a place to live. Forced to find temporary housing as their landlord made repairs, Harrison and Maranda Best spent their life’s savings on hotels and motels to keep their three young boys safe. But after losing his job due to an injury, Harrison Best and his wife and sons found themselves on the brink of homelessness, until they were connected with the City of Tampa’s Homeless Outreach Team.
Founded in 2022, the Outreach Team offers services and shelter to those in need, including direct access to Tampa HOPE and Salvation Army beds, transportation aid and rental move-in assistance. In the Best Family case, within a few months, Outreach Coordinator Manuel Pelegri was able to secure stable housing for the couple and their three sons, (Waylon (7), Roy (6) and Oliver (3). They were also connected with the city’s Rental Assistance and Move-in Program (RMAP), to receive move-in assistance and a six-month rental subsidy.
“Our city’s Homeless Outreach Team exemplifies the compassion and collaboration that define Tampa’s commitment to all its residents,” said Mayor Jane Castor. “Through daily street outreach, partnerships with service providers, and direct connections to shelter and support services, they’ve not only helped individuals off the streets—they’ve helped them reclaim hope.”
But Pelegri wasn’t alone — he worked alongside Tampa nonprofit, Family Promise, which secured temporary housing for the Bests at a local shelter. Under the leadership of program director Edwina Reddick, Harrison Best says his family was able to avoid his worst nightmare: losing his children because he couldn’t provide them a home. He said Family Promise worked to ensure his family was never split apart.
“I do believe teamwork makes the dream work,” said Family Promise’s Edwina Reddick. “And that is what Family Promise and City of Tampa did for this family, and especially for those children. We made their dream of being in their own bed and their own bedroom come true.”
Family Promise offers 90-day programs for families with school-age children; during that time, families will be offered housing and necessary support, as well as case management and financial savings planning programs.
Since its creation three years ago, the City’s Homeless Outreach Team has permanently housed 224 households. This fiscal year alone, the team of five has housed nearly 110 and found shelter placement for 76 individuals. Nearly 700 have been linked to services by the Outreach Team, including shelters, diversion/re-unification assistance and transportation aid.