Politics & Government

Valrico Senator Hopes to Combat Homelessness With Proposed Legislation

Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, is proposing a Senate bill to provide funding for homeless residents in Florida.

News Report

In a bipartisan show of concern for homeless children in Florida, state Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, and state Rep. Betty Reed, D-Tampa, have filed legislation for the 2012 Florida legislative session that seeks to raise awareness and funding to help combat homelessness.

House Bill 531 and Senate Bill 1130 would allow Floridians registering vehicles and renewing driver licenses to donate a dollar for programs to help the homeless. If implemented, the legislation is estimated to raise roughly $1.5 million a year for assistance to the homeless, according to a press release from the state.

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The legislation is similar to a bill approved on a bipartisan vote earlier this year by the full Florida House of Representatives but failed to win final approval in the Florida Senate.

Under the measures sponsored by Reed and Storms, contributions made through Department of Motor Vehicles forms would be placed in a state trust fund that would assist Florida's Office on Homelessness, which provides grants to local agencies serving the homeless and conducts public-awareness campaigns about the plight of the homeless in the state.

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Florida's foreclosure crisis, along with high unemployment and austere budgets, have resulted in numerous homeless families in Florida, some of whom are forced to live out of their cars or in even more desperate conditions.

"Children deserve hope and our help," said Reed. "I believe that Floridians want to help the homeless, and our legislation to allow residents to make it easier to contribute to the cause of homelessness will bring needed hope to struggling Florida families.

"I am sincerely grateful for Senator Storms' willingness to sponsor this important bill, and I look forward to bipartisan support in the Legislature," said Reed.


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