By Dalia Dangerfield | July 28, 2018 @8:08 AM
A Bay area woman is working to create a rest stop for the homeless.
Beth Ross wants to create Tampa's first urban rest stop.
"It's going to be a place where the homeless can go, take a shower, do laundry," she said.
Ross got the idea while visiting Seattle. A stop there has been providing free services for homeless individuals and families for nearly 20 years.
"It's kind of like a full circle of solving a community's problems," Ross said.
She has already been helping the homeless with shampoos, conditioners, toiletries and blankets through her first non-profit, Blanket Tampa Bay.
The urban rest stop would be the next step.
"There are so many people every Monday night that are looking for work, that want a job. If we can get them cleaned up, get them clothes for interview, get them a job, they'll be off the street."
But she will need money. She has been applying for grants and doing whatever she can to make it a reality.
"I'm just thrilled. I feel like a kid at Christmas. I just know it's going to come," Ross said.
She is hoping to have the urban rest stop ready to go by next year.
It will take about $50,000 to get started, she said. Ross has also been meeting with local leaders to get political support for the project.
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