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Agencies Step Up For Jobless As Economy Slumps

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 6, 2008

Updated: 10/06/2008 05:25 pm

TAMPA - People in their 40s and 50s with long work histories are finding themselves unemployed for the first time in their lives.

Local agencies are responding with programs tailored to this group. They include a church in a well-to-do area of Carrollwood that decided to provide parishioners some tangible help along with the emotional support now in such great demand.

"This is a disorienting process for these individuals," said Jim Kissane, director of the new Between Jobs program at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 12708 N. Dale Mabry Highway.

Unemployment in Florida is at its highest level since January 1995, with 606,000 of 9.3 million Floridians — 6.5 percent of the work force — out of work, says Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation. Nationally, the figure is 6.1 percent.

Here are some other places trying to help:

Metropolitan Ministries

Metropolitan Ministries has seen so many middle-age workers seeking help that it remodeled a room at its center on North Florida Avenue to help them.

"We actually have had to extend our hours to accommodate them," said Ana Mendez, spokeswoman for Metropolitan Ministries.

The effort is part of the charity's employment lab, collaboration by eight local organizations. Features of the new lab include computers, fax machines, printers and instruction on compiling résumés, interviewing effectively and dressing for success.

Food Stamps

Disbursement of food stamps is on the uptick, said Terry Field of the Florida Department of Children & Families.

The agency has made it easier to get the aid in Hillsborough County, Field said, which may explain some of the increase.

Still, he said, "we haven't seen these types of increases for many, many years."

Three state offices distribute food stamps, in Tampa, Plant City and Ruskin, and about 75 locations – including libraries and social services agencies – take applications.

Salvation Army

An increase in requests for help started around early July, and more of the people are middle class, said Steve Vick, general manager of the Salvation Army in Hillsborough County.

"The Salvation Army helps eligible people with rent, mortgage payments, utility bills and food.

United Way

The United Way has established a 211 telephone number to help people, including people recently laid off.

Initially, callers wanted information on volunteer opportunities, health insurance or after-school programs, but more recently they shifted to employment assistance.

Last year, 211 handled nearly 10 million calls, an increase of 27 percent over the previous year, the agency said. Of the calls taken in 2007, nearly 20 percent were about housing and shelter, 17 percent income support and 13 percent food needs.

WANT TO HELP?

•Salvation Army, 1603 N. Florida Ave., Tampa FL 33602; phone, (813) 226-0055

•Metropolitan Ministries, 2002 N. Florida Ave., Tampa FL 33602; phone, (813) 209-1000

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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