The Homeless In Florida Give Citrus County Sheriffs Office An Award For Compassion And Understanding

CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla., March 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sheriffs awarded for Kindness. The Mission in Citrus Homeless Shelters recently awarded the Citrus County, Florida Sheriff's Department an award for their outstanding treatment of the homeless, and their improved understanding and empathy of the new faces of homelessness. Treating those who have become homeless through no fault of their own with dignity and respect. And their dedication and teamwork to get the criminal homeless off the streets and to make Citrus County Florida a much safer place to live.

One of many stories:

"My name is Jane Phipps. I am a 53 year old single female. Currently, I am living at the Mission in Citrus, a homeless shelter in Crystal River. I thank God every day for the Mission.

"The night that I came I was sick and had been at the emergency room because of my COPD and deteriorating Arthritis. I am also manic depressive and bi-polar. My cousin took me to the hospital because I was sick and left me there. I was terrified. I didn't know what to do, where to go since I was not from here...all kind of things went through my mind. What would I do, where would I stay, and what would I eat? I only had the clothes on my back and no one to turn to.

"I went to a neighbor's house and called the police. When the Sheriff's office got there, the officer asked me what was going on and I told him what had happened. I then began to cry because I was scared and didn't know what to do. The officer got down on his knee and told me to calm down, everything would be alright, that he was going to take me some place where I would be safe and wouldn't have to worry.

"So he did exactly what he said he would; he brought me to the Mission. Here, I have found a family that genuinely cares that I'm okay and safe."

SOURCE Mission in Citrus Inc