CRESTVIEW—In at least a half-dozen locations across Crestview, woods are the only home to dozens of people with nowhere else to go.

From victims of addiction, to sufferers of mental health conditions, to individuals experiencing unfortunate circumstances — trees provide protection from a world that has largely forgotten them.

OPENING THE CONVERSATION

Crestview lacks a central location for homeless individuals but various churches and groups across the city maintain soup kitchens or cold night shelters to provide aid.

“What I found was that a lot of these groups weren’t talking to each other,” Councilman J.B. Whitten said. “One group would be in need of something and not realize that this other group was able to help them. So, I wanted to open up that conversation.”

Whitten hosted a workshop Feb. 27 to start the process of opening communications. His passion for aiding the homeless began in the years before he was a council member; it focused on assisting veterans.

“I was working on helping homeless vets and I realized that there’s more than just vets that are homeless,” Whitten said. “I had to be educated on the situation and learn what resources are available and who people can call for help.”

People like those taking refuge in encampments. Police Chief Tony Taylor believes there to be a few dozen, but community activist David Booher said this number could exceed 100.

Booher voluntarily brings necessities to people living in the camps and offers them mentorship. He recognizes homelessness as a “community problem” and cites lack of proper medical and mental care as a reason for the poor quality of life many of those he helps have fallen into.

Booher identified six camps that exist in the area but declined to disclose their location for fear of harm brought to residents there. Harm like that which occurred last March, when two homeless individuals purportedly had their tent and possessions set ablaze.

HOUSING THE HOMELESS

Areas like Fort Walton Beach have created group housing projects to accommodate the homeless but Whitten says this isn’t the most feasible option.

“Homeless or no, people don’t want to live in a large space occupied with other people all the time,” he said.

Further, these locations only provide temporary arrangements — not permanent facilities. The cost of building subsidized housing or apartments for those individuals, such as seen in other areas, exceeds a city budget, he added.

This is where groups like the Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless come in. The non-profit organization coordinates cold-night shelters, food kitchens and supply centers across Crestview with area churches’ help.

The group also runs a temporary, daytime shelter — Helping Hands — where folks can come in to use computers, wash clothes and apply for jobs.

Still, this presents the problem of getting to the various shelters. Moving across the city each day for the chance of a meal or bed isn’t the most feasible option for some, according to Whitten.

The city welcomed an effort to construct a homeless shelter a number of years ago using private grant money but the individual — unknown to Whitten — purportedly was eyeing a location near Twin Hills Park and the City Council at the time opposed the measure due to children’s presence in the park. The person purportedly proposed no secondary location and the effort failed.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR A SOLUTION

Food and shelter aren’t the homeless’ only needs. Some require assistance seeking veterans’ benefits, disability applications, bus tickets, detox information and many other personal and medical needs. CASH works to bring these resources to those in need.

These services are required by people such as one unnamed man, who Booher says has been Baker Acted 27 times but not provided with adequate medical assistance. The Florida Mental Health Act, commonly referred to as the Baker Act, allows for the involuntary mental health examination of individuals considered a threat to themselves or others. Law enforcement officials, judges or medical personnel can enact it.

“I don’t know what the solution is,” Whitten said. “That’s why I’m hoping the workshop and meetings that have followed it can be a springboard for communication.

“It’s not just my issue to figure out alone, it’s an opportunity for the community to work together to find what works best.”

THE ISSUE: Crestview's homeless have few resources available and must find alternative places to live.

LOCAL IMPACT: Individuals face low quality of life and the city runs risks for more individuals falling into similar situations without support systems. Aside from ethical dilemmas, these people are often forgotten.

HOW TO HELP

Contact Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless, 398-5670, for more information on how to help. Donations of clothing, hygiene items, food, plastic totes or bags can be made from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Helping Hands, 428 McLaughlin St.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: The dilemma: helping Crestview's homeless

WASHINGTON — OK Food, Inc., an Oklahoma City, Okla. establishment, is recalling approximately 933,272 pounds of breaded chicken products that may be contaminated with extraneous materials, specifically metal, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service stated in a media release.

The ready-to-eat breaded chicken items were produced on various dates from Dec. 19, 2016 through March 7. The products subject to recall bear establishment number "P-7092" inside the USDA mark of inspection. These items were shipped to retail locations and institutions nationwide.

The USDA Class 1 recall designates a product high-risk if there is a reasonable probability that the product's use will cause serious, adverse health consequences or death.

This is the list of recalled items:

•10-pound packages containing "Smart Foods4Schools ABC – 123 Shaped Nuggets With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133002.

•10-pound packages containing "Smart Foods4Schools Breaded Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Star Shaped Nuggets With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133003.

•10-pound packages containing "Smart Foods4Schools Breaded Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Heart Shaped Nuggets With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133008.

•10-pound packages containing "Smart Foods4Schools Breaded Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Shamrock Shaped Chicken Fingers With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133013.

•10-pound packages containing "Smart Foods4Schools Breaded Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Shark Shaped Chicken Fingers With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133014.

•30-pound packages containing "Chickentopia Fully Cooked Breaded Tender Shaped Chicken Breast Patties With Rib Meat" bearing case code 133015.

•30-pound packages containing "Double D Foods Fully Cooked Herb Seasoned Breaded Chicken Breast Patty With Rib Meat" bearing case code 178981.

•7.5-pound packages containing "Great Value Fully Cooked Herb Seasoned Breaded Chicken Breast Patty With Rib Meat" bearing case code 201258 and "Best By/Use by" dates 3/2/2018.

•20-pound packages containing "TenderBird Fully Cooked, Breaded Chicken Breast Patties With Rib Meat" bearing case code 235384.

•21-pound packages containing "Save A Lot Fully Cooked, Breaded Chicken Breast Nuggets" bearing case code 252385.

•18-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Fries" bearing case code 252386.

•28-lb packages containing "Save A Lot Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Fries" bearing case code 252386.

•24-pound packages containing "Lake Liner Logo Brand Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Nuggets" bearing case code 256385 and "Best By" dates 01 23 18.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Breaded Chicken Patties With Rib Meat" bearing case code 342002.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Breaded Tender Shaped Chicken Breast Patties With Rib Meat" bearing case code 342015.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Chicken Patties Breaded Chicken Breast Patties with Rib Meat" bearing case code 342384.

•20-pound packages containing "Tenderbird Fully Cooked Chicken Breast Patties With Rib Meat" bearing case code 342384.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Chicken Nuggets Breaded Chicken Nuggets with Rib Meat" bearing case code 342385.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Chicken Fries Breaded Chicken Fries with Rib Meat" bearing case code 342386.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Spicy Breaded Chicken Breast Filet with Rib Meat" bearing case code 342608.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Crispy Chicken Breast Fillet Fritters With Rib Meat" bearing case code 342614.

•20-pound packages containing "Spring River Farms Fully Cooked Herb Seasoned Breaded Chicken Breast Patty With Rib Meat" bearing case code 342981.

The problem was discovered March 21 after OK Foods Inc. received five consumer complaints stating that metal objects were found in the ready-to-eat chicken products and by FSIS inspection personnel during verification activities. After an internal investigation, the firm identified the affected product and determined that the objects in all the complaints came from metal conveyor belting.

There are no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a healthcare provider.

Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

FSIS routinely conducts recall effectiveness checks to verify recalling firms notify their customers of the recall and that steps are taken to make certain that the product is no longer available to consumers. When available, the retail distribution list(s) will be posted on the FSIS website at www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls.

Consumers may contact Abby Brown, 479-312-2409, with questions about the recall.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: RECALLED: Metal found in breaded chicken products

CRESTVIEW — Congressman Matt Gaetz invites the community to join him for Service Academy and ROTC Nights.

Service Academy Nights provide constituents with information regarding admission processes, the Congressional Office nomination process and a chance to meet and ask questions of service academy representatives from the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy and University ROTC programs.

The local Service Academy Night is 6-8 p.m. April 18 at Crestview High School, 1250 Ferdon Blvd. N., Crestview.

Guest speakers include Jason Crawford of Pensacola and retired Air Force Col. Edward Hubbard of Fort Walton Beach.

Crawford served eight years in the U.S. Army Infantry, with tours in Baghdad, Bosnia and Korea. He is currently the C.E.O. for Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems.

Col. Edward Hubbard, retired U.S. Air Force pilot and former Vietnam POW, is an internationally known speaker, management consultant, artist and author.

Contact Communications Director Kavontae Smalls or Deputy Director of Military Affairs Nathan Nelson, 479-1183, for more information.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Gaetz plans Service Academy Night

CRESTVIEW — City Council member JB Whitten, Mayor David Cadle and City Clerk Betsy Roy will participate in a town hall meeting on how Crestview city government structure is scheduled.

The meeting is 6-8 p.m. March 30 at Azteca Restaurant, 789 Ferdon Blvd. N., Crestview.

Attendees can learn how Crestview government functions, and get answers to these questions:

•What is a strong mayor?

•What is a city manager?

•What are the responsibilities of the city council?

•What are the responsibilities of the mayor?

•What are the responsibilities of the city clerk?

Attendees may voice questions, ideas and recommendations concerning local government structure directly to city representatives.

Those unable to attend may email their ideas to jbwhitten@cityofcrestview.org.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Town hall meeting on local government structure set

Editor’s Note: All Crestview candidates running for elected office received the same questionnaire relevant to the position each seeks. Their answers follow.

Crestview City Clerk Betsy Roy, City Councilman Shannon Hayes (District 2) and City Councilman Doug Faircloth (District 3) ran unopposed, so we did not send them a questionnaire for this voter guide.

Crestview’s municipal election is March 14. See www.govote-okaloosa.com to find your polling place.  

Name: Joe Blocker

Office sought: Crestview City Council, District 1

Occupation: Commercial construction on-site project manager, 50-plus years

Relevant experience: Supervised and managed untold number of commercial construction projects for 55-plus years, from thousands to multi-million dollar cost, from conception to completion for municipalities, counties, states and federal government projects.

Reason for seeking this position: I retired five-plus years back — and with ample time to devote to my interest in the government and moving our city forward — with the enthusiastic support of multitudes of friends and fellow citizens encouraging me to put my wisdom, knowledge and experience to work for my city.

The increase in population has also resulted in severe road congestion within Crestview. This discourages citizens (and potential ones) from traveling the area as well as increases the likelihood of traffic accidents.

How would you address this issue as a city council member?

Population growth has been a plus for our city, although no doubt has caused many hardships for some people, especially in the traffic problem.

We must realize “no gain, no pain.” I have been a voting member of Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization now for three-plus years and, believe me, I know the hard facts about this traffic problem and (am) working full force in resolving it ASAP.

Population growth has increased over the last several years, resulting in city revenue boosts through tax dollars.

With that growth has come a greater demand for public resources and businesses.

How will you use the economic surge to improve quality of life for Crestview citizens?

My goal has been, from day one, to develop and bring to our city a vast number of wholesome economic developments, mainly in the retail business, and developing resources with assets for the youth and especially our senior adults in the entertainment field. Developing businesses will result in revenue boosts through tax dollars.

Crestview — I’m fully convinced, from the research that I have been involved with the past four years — is at the stage, with correct leaders, to fully develop what was a small, rural city to a city of many means, known internationally, drawing people to this area because who we the people are. And we must meet the people’s needs in quality of services for a great life.

Name: Landrum “Larry” Edwards

Office sought: Crestview City Council, District 1

Occupation: Retired civil service; owner of Edwards Machine Shop.

Message: (Editor’s Note: Edwards did not complete the questionnaire provided but did send the News Bulletin the following statement.)

I have run for public office twice to try and make a difference for the citizens of Crestview. Without change, Crestview will still be stuck in 1950s. (With) certain people who still try to control the growth by not allowing us to have adequate roads. This has gone on since the ’70s, because no one will speak against the people who want Crestview to stay in the ’70s.

I am willing to stand up for the citizens of Crestview. An example is building the new courthouse in the middle of Crestview with inadequate roads and parking. This will not allow Crestview to advance to the future in the downtown area (due to) overcrowding.

Statements have been said that it's our way or no way; the money is in the south end of the county. They do not realize that Crestview area and the north end of the county will have the voting control in the next 10 years.

I will work and speak for the citizens of Crestview and the area around Crestview. 

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Council candidates talk traffic, economic growth

CRESTVIEW — Recent Mason-Dixon Polling and Research findings called the city’s government structure into question, sparking debate among city officials.

But the topics of city marketability and luring investors to Crestview were seemingly lost in the shuffle.

“I think they are all related because without an efficient government structure, investors will be hesitant to put their money there,” Quint Studer, investor, businessman and founder of the Studer Community Institute, said during a phone interview.

The institute works to improve the quality of life for Pensacola area residents, but recently turned its attention toward Crestview.

The city needs to establish a central mission and identify priority areas for its quality of life before it can begin garnering investors’ attention, Studer said in a January speech to the Crestview City Council.

Studer believes this is still a vital step and requires insight from Crestview residents at a time when the city is debating if it will complete the Mason-Dixon research.

One of the next steps in that research is a “quality of life” survey sent to residents. Its findings could help in creation of a metric to measure the city’s most important factors to quality of life.

Establishing priorities will be difficult for the city without this insight, Studer said. The task of tackling all problems becomes challenging without these established priorities as points of focus, he added.

“It’s important to figure out what residents are saying,” Studer said. “I still think they need to [complete the study].”

“The city needs benchmarks and the ability to know where they want to go with them,” Community Redevelopment Agency Director Brenda Smith said in a phone interview, agreeing with Studer’s position. Smith and the CRA were responsible for bringing Studer and Mason-Dixon Polling and Research to the city.

Studer stands by the research and supports the city moving to a council-manager structure of government to streamline growth, he said. This would also allow the government to work more effectively toward achieving goals, according to Studer.

A manager focuses on the day-to-day issues of running the city, such as administrative tasks, coordinating between department directors, developing an annual budget and educating elected officials.

“Larry [Harris of Mason-Dixon] had many concerns that the city was at risk and those had to be addressed before surveying people,” Smith said in response to how a potential shake-up would affect Crestview’s intent to lure investors.

The city is being forced into rapidly accepting outside changes, City Attorney Ben Holley said after hearing the findings and recommendations from the Mason-Dixon research.

“They can slow down,” Studer said in regard to this response. “But what’s the right amount of time to give yourself? If you take too long, you end up just where you started at.”

Crestview might explore conducting its own resident survey, according to a conversation with Mayor David Cadle.

Smith expressed concern that such a study would not be independent and questioned who would manage and write the survey.

“What are they going to be measuring?” Smith said. “If it’s not done properly you’ll just get people saying they aren’t happy in general or don’t like the park or something.”

Regardless of who conducts the next phase, economic development and business growth could be hindered if a citizen survey isn’t conducted and quality of life focal points aren’t established at all.

Instituting these changes without a restructuring of government, as Studer said, would make it difficult to meet goals.

Studer still expressed interest and hope in Crestview but cautions about slowing the process of research and reform implementation too much.

Smith, too, views abandoning the Mason-Dixon research and potentially the Studer Community Institute as a step backward for growth.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Economic growth hinges on resident survey, experts say

CRESTVIEW — Mason-Dixon Polling and Research’s recent recommendations call for Crestview to establish a council-manager style of government.

Mayor David Cadle and multiple City Council members support the idea, but why? And what would Crestview’s government look like with the addition of a city manager?

Here, we answer those questions.

THE CURRENT SYSTEM

Knowing how Crestview’s government is currently structured helps in understanding what potential changes could look like and what effects they would have.

In Crestview, department heads answer directly to the City Council. The city’s various departments include public services, growth management, library services, a community redevelopment agency and several more entities. Answering directly to the council means these individuals have, in effect, five bosses.

“The system now is disjointed, although weekly department meetings have helped a lot,” Cadle said. Before he became mayor, regular meetings with department heads weren’t happening, he added.

This also complicates budget adoption, according to Cadle. Department heads individually prepare their budget and present it to the city clerk, who then conducts review meetings before generating a final budget. The clerk presents this finalized budget to the council for approval.

The police and fire departments directly report to the mayor, rather than the entire council.

COUNCIL-MANAGER STRUCTURE

“If the city were a business, I would serve as the CEO and the mayor and council would be like the board of directors,” Michael Beedie, Fort Walton Beach’s city manager, said.

A manager focuses on the day-to-day issues of running the city, such as administrative tasks, coordinating between department directors, developing an annual budget and educating elected officials.

“When elected officials are department heads, they aren’t necessarily trained in how to run those departments,” Beedie said. “They may or may not have experience in operations.”

However, a manager is trained in those roles. They also have experience in running a city, much in the way a CEO would have experience in running a company.

This reduces the responsibilities of elected officials, allowing them to focus on representing their citizens, according to Beedie.

A manager also takes the place of the clerk in the budgeting process, allowing that individual to focus on other tasks such as public records.

Council meetings tend to run smoothly with the addition of a manager, according to Beedie. Since the manager controls day-to-day operations, he or she can keep elected officials informed and educated on pressing matters, while resolving smaller matters outside public meetings.

Employing a city manager also allows for more accountability, according to Beedie.

“If a mayor isn’t doing a good job, you can’t really do anything until the next election so, citizens are kind of stuck with them,” Beedie said. “With a manager, city council can hire or fire them with a majority vote.”

OTHER OPTIONS

The city has three options for government restructuring, according to Cadle. Citizens can vote to leave the structure as is, adopt the council-manager structure or adopt a strong mayor system.

In a strong mayor system, the mayor serves as the head of all departments.

This system would also alleviate pressure on department heads by creating a single supervisor, according to Cadle.

However, a strong mayor structure still puts an elected official in charge of managerial operations, Beedie said, adding this could result in a supervisor who is not prepared to manage the many city departments and pulls the mayor’s focus from citizens.

Regardless of the restructuring, Cadle has advocated against allowing the mayor to vote during City Council meetings. Fort Walton Beach’s mayor can vote if there’s a tie and in other cities, such as Mary Esther, the mayor casts a regular vote, according to Beedie.

Due to Florida’s Sunshine Laws, if the mayor were able to vote during meetings, they could not discuss the topics outside a public meeting setting.

By not being able to vote, Cadle can offer guidance and suggestions to council members, he said.

WHY CHANGE?

“Our current system worked for the city for years when our town was smaller, but it’s growing,” Cadle said. “I want us to maintain a small-town feel but we won’t be a small town much longer.”

Due to Crestview’s expanding population, day-to-day tasks have increased and departments have grown in size. Streamlining communication and having a managing professional on staff would allow more time for elected officials to better serve their citizens, Cadle added.

A meeting to explore options and discuss the recommendations of the Mason-Dixon study was scheduled for March 13.

However, that meeting will be moved to a later date to allow for research and scheduling of neighboring city managers to speak, according to Cadle.

THE ISSUE: Several officials support a recommended restructuring of the Crestview government

LOCAL IMPACT: A council-manager style of government could allow elected officials to focus on citizens and policy development while delegating day-to-day operations to a management professional.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: What if Crestview hired a city manager?

CRESTVIEW — Brandon Bolton, a utility maintenance foreman for the city of Crestview, said the city's Public Works Department has scheduled a temporary road closure.

A section of Citadel Lane will be closed 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 8 and 9 due to utility work at 229 Citadel Lane in Crestview. 

Residents may call the department at 682-6132 if they have any questions about the work.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview road closure set

CRESTVIEW—Motorists driving over the hill on South Ferdon Boulevard get a glimpse of downtown, passing trains and, recently, graffiti.

Vacant structures in Crestview have become spray paint victims over the past several months. The downtown area hasn’t been the only affected area; tagging has been seen in residential areas and on property in Laurel Hill. The occurrences have grabbed the attention of Councilman Shannon Hayes, who commented on the graffiti at a recent City Council meeting, and Crestview Police Chief Tony Taylor.

“We’re on it,” Taylor said. “We’ve been investigating it but unfortunately these are individuals likely working at night, see a police car and are gone.”

The department began noticing the influx of spray paint incidents in recent months. The tags have been seen in all areas of the city and aren’t concentrated in certain neighborhoods or sections of town. This and the content of the vandalism lead CPD to believe the graffiti isn’t gang-related.

“What we’ve seen isn’t necessarily gang tags; at least not that I’ve interpreted,” Taylor said. “The fact that they are scattered backs that up as well. In gang situations, you see more concentrated work because they are marking territory — we’re not seeing that here.”

While the tagging might not be gang-related, it still has some residents concerned.

“Crestview is just starting to expand and pull itself together,” resident Georgiana Nance said. “Having spray paint all over the city buildings sends a message we should not send.”

“[Spray paint] on random buildings is not acceptable,” Aimee Gudinas, another Crestview resident, said. She offered an alternative solution to handling graffiti in town — providing a legal means for street art within city limits.

“I have noticed that the artwork on the brick buildings downtown really needs to be touched up,” Gudinas said. “That would be a good place to start. Hang some flyers on the buildings that are getting graffiti and ask for volunteers.”

Several other Florida cities have experimented with public venues for street artists to display work. Pensacola has Graffiti Bridge, which features an ever-changing display of spray paint projects and tagging. Downtown Tampa allows artists to use utility boxes at intersections as their canvas. Jacksonville has begun licensing walls of vacant buildings to painters and artists for creative displays. Palatka, known as the City of Murals, has a municipal council to regulate murals and street paintings in town.

“I think the graffiti is cool, to be honest,” resident Anna Rave said. “But it being on the side of buildings, or being done illegally, is wrong.”

Having a place where artists could legally attach their work would solve “a lot” of the graffiti problems, Rave added.

“Some of these people are talented, aspiring artists,” Taylor said. However, some of the work is far from skilled and, regardless of the artist’s ability, producing displays on vacant buildings is still illegal, he added.

A person caught spray painting a building could be charged with criminal mischief and fined at least the cost of repairs, possibly more, depending on the court system, according to Taylor. Investigators would also explore possible connections between a suspect and other pieces throughout town.

Certain stylistic similarities can be found to connect multiple acts of vandalism, Taylor said. Graffiti artists also sometimes sign work with their name, alias or initials—all of which can be used to link crimes.

Contact the Crestview Police Department, 682-3544, for any information regarding graffiti or vandalism in town.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Graffiti vandals raise concern

CRESTVIEW — A City Council workshop on Monday focused on the plights of homeless individuals and how the community can help.

Councilman J.B. Whitten invited four speakers, as well as public input, on how to address the problems homeless people face. Whitten intends to form a community resource committee for the city to address the situation.

“Going to the different churches and seeing what they’re doing is awesome,” Whitten said in response to church programs such as weather shelters and soup kitchens. However, he expressed concern that the matter is too great for lone individuals or groups to tackle and requires a coordinated effort led by the city.

“Individuals can get burned out and programs go away, but not the problems,” he said.

Those problems extend beyond homeless people seen downtown or on local roads.

Community activist David Booher described homeless camps that exist in various wooded sites. Approximately 100 people live in six known camps, according to Booher.

Booher detailed issues faced by a man who had been Baker Acted 27 times but lacked the medical care to get out of his situation.

“We have in our community a need for proper medical care,” Booher said. “This isn’t just a city problem, it’s a community problem.”

Scheduled speakers included Ann Sprague of the Crestview Area Shelter for the Homeless, Sarah Yelverton of the Homeless and Housing Alliance, Fort Walton Beach City Manager Michael Beedie and Dawn Butler of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Care Center.

Each speaker discussed homeless initiatives from their respective group or agency.

Barron Evans, a former Crestview resident now residing in Niceville, called on the city to build a dedicated shelter with set regulations to manage the homeless situation.

Currently, cold-weather shelters and food kitchens are solely operated by various churches in Crestview.

Beedie discussed during his presentation a multi-phase plan in Fort Walton Beach to develop a group of facilities to provide shelter to displaced veteran services, cold-weather relief, homeless women and children and a resource center.

While Crestview has no such plan, the workshop provided invaluable information to city leaders, according to Whitten.

“Thank you for opening our eyes to a lot of issues many didn’t know about,” Mayor David Cadle said after the presentations.

Councilman Shannon Hayes encouraged residents and his colleagues to pressure Okaloosa County commissioners for additional assistance in providing homeless care.

Finally, the city agreed to house a donation box at City Hall for Crocheted Mats for the Homeless. The organization recycles plastic shopping bags into sleeping mats.

The group has expanded rapidly in recent months and enlists over 500 volunteers, according to founder Debbie Barberee.

Contact Crestview Councilman J.B. Whitten at jbwhitten@cityofcrestview.com for suggestions on how to improve the quality of life for the local homeless.

WANT TO HELP?

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Solutions sought for city's homeless residents