FASTPAST VICTORIES

Transportation

We got our county transportation agency, PSTA, to upgrade many of the bus stops to provide shelter and more safety for their riders, especially senior citizens.

Transportation

FAST got the Director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization to create a new, one-number system for senior transportation. This new system, unveiled in March 2006, works with the Area Agency for Aging and allows seniors to speak directly with a trained professional who can help them with their transportation needs. There are over 20,500 seniors in Pinellas County who do not drive and who will benefit from this new system.

Affordable Housing

In 2006, FAST secured commitments from all 7 county commissioners to support an affordable housing trust fund. To date, $19.2 million has been allocated to the fund creating 1469 new units. We continue to monitor the progress on the funding for the trust fund.

The Portland- Affordable Housing

The Portland- located in the heart of St. Pete at 3rd Ave N and 8th St N- is a complex that was created with funding from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

This building provides affordable, stylish housing to low-income residents of St. Pete

The Portland

The Portland

Some of the trust fund money also created more long term housing at Pinellas Hope

Education

In 2005, we secured commitments from the director of the Early Learning Coalition to provide funding for a full-day of Pre-K for any child whose parents are working am make less than 200% of the poverty level. To date over 7,000 low-income 4-year-olds in Pinellas County have been able to attend Pre-K because of this funding.

Education

Low-income students enjoying their VPK studies

Education

In 2014 FAST got a school-wide discipline program, Positive Behavior Supports, implemented in 29 target schools. The program focuses on positive interventions instead of punitive measures, and has already reduced the number of suspensions and arrests given this school year.

Drugs and Crime

Through the FAST Hot Spots campaign, the local law enforcement of the County, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg have, in total, cleaned up over 76 hot spots of drugs and crime in our communities.

FAST got Sheriff Gualtieri to reinstate an in-jail rehabilitation program by funding it directly from the sheriff’s budget. Previously, participants of this program were twice as likely to stay out of jail after being released as inmates from the regular jail population.

God’s people working together to bring create a more fair and just Pinellas County

Jobs

In 2011 Dr. Law, President of St. Petersburg College, responded to the concerns of FAST by creating the Learn to Earn Program. This program created short term, affordable, certificate programs to prepare people for jobs in fields which are currently hiring. Since 2011, 2,170 certificates have been earned in fields such as Orthotic Fitter and Security Officer.

Healthcare

After two years of hard work by FAST members, in 2013 three dental clinics were added which serve an additional 1,900 lower income adults per year.

Additionally in 2014 we successfully got the County Commissioners to allocate $958,000 of reoccurring funding into the county budget for dental care.. In total 3,500 more will be able to get access to comprehensive dental care in Pinellas County because of our efforts.

These are long term systemic changes that help bring Pinellas County closer in line with God’s vision of community where love and peace flourish and where we love our neighbor as ourselves.

Together we can effectively respond to God’s call to do Justice.