For David Bernau, the road to recovery has been a long and challenging one. After losing his home due to two hurricanes, Bernau found himself among the many homeless individuals struggling to make ends meet. "It was bad, I cried, I said, you know, God has a better purpose for me and he has," Bernau shared. His story is one that many others in Tampa can relate to as the city faces an ongoing homelessness crisis that has been exacerbated by natural disasters in recent years. Bernau’s situation was dire when Hurricane Ian tore off the roof of his home over a year ago, followed by Hurricane Milton, which further damaged what remained. With no place to go, he was forced to turn to shelters and temporary housing provided by the city and county. “A lot of people are in the same kind of boat,” he said. In response to this need, the city of Tampa recently approved an additional $1 million to go toward homelessness services, bringing the total funding to $4 million for the Salvation Army to continue its work supporting those in need. The decision, made in a vote by the city council, is seen as a much-needed boost in the fight against homelessness. Major Mark Woodcock, who works with the Salvation Army, expressed the importance of these funds. "The average age of our clients includes a lot of folks who are 60 years and above, many of whom have lived a hard life," Woodcock said. "This funding will help us provide not just beds and food, but a wide range of wraparound services to support those who are struggling."