Storms, Reed Seek to Establish Homeless Family Fund

A 60 Minutes piece on widespread homelessness in Florida helped spur a pair of state legislators to file a bill that would allow people to donate $1 to homeless programs when registering vehicles and renewing driver licenses.

Sen. Ronda Storms, R-Valrico, and State Rep. Betty Reed, D-Tampa, filed similar bills this week -- SB 1130 and HB 531 -- in their respective chambers, that seek to raise awareness and funding to help combat homelessness.

"Children deserve hope and our help," Reed stated in a release. "I believe that Floridians want to help the homeless, and our legislation to allow residents to make it easier to contribute to the cause of homelessness will bring needed hope to struggling Florida families."

The goal of the bill is to raise roughly $1.5 million a year for homeless programs.

On Nov. 27, the 60 Minutes program highlighted a family from Seminole County living out of their car.

Of all the homeless families in Florida, two-thirds are living on the street, according to the 60 Minutes report.