Tamara Dawes spoke before the Rotary Club of Sunrise Florida on February 2025 on Human Trafficking and Homelessness, they are often linked. She also shared with us the community resources that are available to battle homelessness locally, and discussed the Broward Community Health Court.
This is her story that she narrated at our Rotary meeting:
I’m just a mom that has seen, or heard stories of too many homeless mothers and their children. Like them, I have called all the places I could think of to get help, but there are “no rooms at the Inn.” Shelters are not accepting anyone, because they are at their Covid-19 mandated 25% capacity, and do not know when they will be given permission to increase. There are no hotel vouchers available, and most churches are using their resources for their own members. Where can these families get help! The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of us, but who will help these desperate families?
I’m just a mom that has seen families sleeping in cars, on plazas, and numerous other places with nowhere to turn. Recently, I had a brief encounter with a single mother and her sixteen-year-old son; they were on a plaza with two small black bags containing all their possession asking for money to buy food. The security guard approached and asked them to vacate the premises, because people were complaining about their presence, and she didn’t want to call the police. The kind security guard allowed me to get some personal information from this mother whom I tried to help. The desperate mother related how frustrated she was in her hopeless attempts of trying to find accommodations, as the shelters are unable to accept them because of the Covid-19 mandate that limits their capacity. I informed her that I too have made numerous calls, so I can attest to the information she shared.
I’m just a mom that knows of a single mother and her three children, including a young baby who were thrown out of their rented room in the pouring rain with all their belongings. The piercing screams of the uncomfortable rain drenched baby; the older children running around barefooted and distressed; and, the sight of all their wet possession under the tree in the severe weather broke the humble mother both physically and emotionally. Although she trembled uncontrollably, she was eventually able to compose herself enough to contact a family member for help; an option most other homeless families do not have. Currently there are so many of these similar stories. Can we just sit back and do nothing? Where can these families go?
I’m just a mom who is trying to help as many people as I can, while trying to keep a roof over my own child’s head. A mother who lost her two months old daughter exactly two years ago, and knows the pain of seeing your children suffering, while feeling helpless and inadequate to change the situation. Perhaps her life and death were to usher me into my purpose, of being a voice for the voiceless. These vulnerable members of our society are susceptible to human trafficking and many other heinous crimes within our society.
I’m just a mom! I have no political affiliation, nor financial resources, just a passion to serve those in need. Will you help! We are our brother’s keeper, and their grief, sorrow, or happiness should be our own.
“You may choose to look the other way, but you can’t say you didn’t know.” William Wilberforce
Tamara Dawes, J.S.D. Candidate 2021
Founder/President of M J Scarlett Foundation, Inc.
An Anti-human Trafficking Organization
https://mjscarlettfoundationinc.org/
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