Rep. Rehwinkel Vasilinda's Letter to Gov. Rick Scott

Florida House Rep. Rehwinkel Vasilinda is urging Gov. Rick Scott to sign funding for the Emergency Services Center For the Homeless. The proposed Tallahassee program is modeled after Florida State Sen. Bill Galvano's (R - 26th District) One Stop Center in Bradenton.

The Bill Galvano One Stop Center offers an array of services including financial help, health care, counseling, and employment assistance. Patrons include women, children, the elderly, and veterans. The Daily Bread serves lunch daily from 10am - 11:30am.

Sadly, Scott has taken every opportunity to cut funding for the homeless. In 2011, Scott vetoed $12 million for the National Veteran's Homeless Support Group. The program was attempting to provide housing for 700 homeless military veterans. The same year Scott vetoed $7 million in funding for a Jacksonville homeless shelter.

In 2013, Scott vetoed $1.3 million in funding for transitional housing facility Metropolitan Ministries sought to get people out of emergency shelters. Former Sen. Mike Fasano was not happy about Scott's veto.

Scott's veto of that project "baffles the mind," said state Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.

"What is disappointing is the governor left millions in the budget for a rowing regatta in Sarasota, but could not find funding for a very good project in Pasco that would have helped families most in need," Fasano said.

Scott's vetos have shown contempt for the homeless. I doubt Scott will even bother to read Vasilinda's letter.