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Tampa hosts tent city for 100 homeless people during county's 'safer-at-home' order

Posted at 6:03 AM, Mar 30, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-30 09:03:43-04

TAMPA, Fla. — The City of Tampa has built a tent city that will house 100 homeless people during the safer-at-home order in Hillsborough County. The camp will be open on Monday.

For the next 30 days, Tampa will pay Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg to run the temporary tent city, called Hillsborough Hope. Tampa officials did not provide the location of the tent city due to safety reasons.

Along with the 100 tents, the site will include a mobile laundromat, mobile shower trailers and six portable toilet rentals. Those living in the camp will be fed three meals a day and will have access to on-site medical treatment.

The Catholic Charities will also supply the residents with water bottles and hand sanitizer.

Hillsborough Hope is open to any homeless person except for registered sex offenders.

Anyone who shows up to the camp will be screened for COVID-19. If someone presents symptoms of the coronavirus, they will be referred to BayCare Health System.

Each tent is spaced about 5 feet apart and will only house one person.

Every person staying at the camp will be issued a wristband that corresponds to their tent number. Anyone accepted in the camp will have to adhere to the safer-at-home order put in place by the county. There will be a 5 p.m. curfew for the residents.