Hollywood’s Homeless Bussed Out To Undisclosed Location

Hollywood’s homeless have hit the road, moving to an undisclosed location four hours north of the city. 1203 Federal Highway, has closed its doors for good, with most viewing the ramshackle shelter an eyesore. With scarcely a belonging between them, 110 homeless boarded with their walkers, canes, wheelchairs, readying for their journey to a new home.

Sean Cononie, the 50-year-old, who in 2002, established the homeless haven in downtown, was emotional about leaving the location. “No doubt, I have been exiled, sex offenders have it better,” Cononie said. “Hollywood doesn’t want us. They think we destroyed downtown. Every city commissioner should be drunk and happy right now“. [1]

It’s a bitter-sweet goodbye. Cononie was brought out by the city after plans for redeveloping the area were finalized. Paying Cononie almost $5 million dollars for the ramshackle lots he owned on Federal Highway, he was also asked to agree to never return within a 30 year period, as a condition to the money.

For years, the shelter offered those who were refused at other shelters, a place to stay. On the proviso of working to live there, Cononie had his congregation sell The Homeless Voice paper on a daily basis, divvying up the pay for sleeping quarters and food. His tough love, no nonsense policy earned respect amongst the more hardened homeless. “If Sean wanted to go to Hell, I’d follow him,” says Greg Gaudette, a resident of Cononie’s former shelter.

But not all hope is lost. Cononie has spent 2 of the 5 million purchasing a 125-room motel on six acres of land, in the undisclosed location. It boasts fully furnished accommodation, a pool, recreation room and laundry. Those who seek lodgings will pay anything from a penny to $24, depending on their circumstances.

A further 80 homeless from Cononie’s group will relocate to other shelters, while 15 have decided to remain in Hollywood.

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[1] Alanez, T. (2015). Hundreds of homeless bussed out of Broward County to undisclosed location in Florida. Retrieved from http://www.cbs12.com/news/features/aroundtheweb/videos/hundreds-of-homeless-bussed-out-of-broward-county-to-undisclosed-location-in-florida.shtml