Humanists of West Florida Help Homeless Stay Dry and Supplied

Northwestern Florida gets rain more than 120 days annually, including heavy downpours during hurricane season. Keeping dry is a serious challenge for unhoused individuals and Florida ranks as third among states with the most unhoused people. The members of Humanists of West Florida (HWF) were already regularly running food and clothing distributions, but knew they had to do more to improve comfort, decrease illness, and prevent deaths from daily exposure to nature’s wrath. With support from an American Humanist Association chapter grant in 2023, they were able to provide 330 non-disposable ponchos and an assortment of requested toiletries to distribute at several community locations.

In recognition of Homelessness Awareness Month in November 2023, HWF hosted the first large distribution of 144 ponchos concurrently with their Annual Shoe Distribution, which has been happening after their shoes and socks drive since 2018. They partnered with Ever’man Cooperative Grocery and Cafe, Open Books Prison Ministry, and Roger Scott Tennis Center to make the event a success. The distribution served clients of Alfred-Washburn Center (A-WC), the largest full-service safe haven for homeless people in Pensacola. The second large distribution of 144 ponchos took place in May 2024 and were again provided to clients of A-WC upon learning that the original ponchos barely lasted six months due to harsh weather conditions. HWF also provides toiletries in bulk whenever A-WC exceeds their budget but needs essentials like toothbrushes and bandages. During June and July 2024, the remaining supply of ponchos were given to Currie House, which provides housing and support for up to twelve at-risk youth at a time, and Food Not Bombs clients who congregate each Friday for meal distributions.

“The Humanists of West Florida are dedicated to helping those in need because it is morally just. Our Poncho and Food Distributions have become critical in light of Florida laws, which are among the nation’s strictest, to criminalize homeless,” said former HWF President Andre Ryland. This October, Florida enacted one of the strictest anti-homeless measures, making it illegal to sleep on sidewalks, in parks, on beaches or in other public spaces. To make matters worse, “residents, business owners and the state can sue municipalities they don’t think are doing enough” to get unhoused individuals off the streets, meaning less money would be available for sustainable solutions.

HWF Vice President Betty Myers shared that one formerly homeless person they served during distributions described their family’s experience as frightening and demoralizing. “They compare it to crawling from the rabbit hole into which they fell. They remind us that no one intends to become homeless. Injury, disaster, poor choices, and loss of income can drive a person into the abyss.”

Now in their sixth year of distributing needed resources to unhoused individuals, HWF has expanded their promotions to include writing articles for local newspapers, airing advertisements on WUWF public radio, displaying posters in strategic locations throughout Pensacola, and direct appeals made to their over 300 Facebook members and friends. They plan to offer an annual poncho distribution to coincide with Secular Week of Action (which encompasses the weekends before and after the National Day of Reason on the first Thursday in May) and are seeking partners to provide ponchos in November during their Annual Shoe Distribution Drive.

To support HWF’s commitment to reducing the plight of the unhoused in their region, please donate at https://hwfl.org/donate and designate funds to “homeless”. You can also follow their lead and find ways to support your local unhoused communities.