Commissioner Murman quoted in this NewsChannel 8 article on foster kids in offices:

8 INVESTIGATES: Hillsborough to allow Eckerd foster kids to stay at facility

By Candace McCowanPublished: August 17, 2016, 11:36 am  Updated: August 17, 2016, 11:47 am

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Hillsborough County Commission is stepping in to provide additional shelter for foster children after commissioners heard reports of children sleeping in office buildings.

8 On Your Side was the first to report that foster kids had been sleeping in offices. The reports emerged in June. Children who were taken from their homes due to abuse and neglect, had to sleep in offices because Department of Children and Families contractor Eckerd Kids didn’t have appropriate placements for the children.

Eckerd Kids reported that 38 kids slept in offices between April and June of 2016. They also reported that 43 children have slept in offices since July of 2015, due to a lack of placements for the children.

Commissioner Sandy Murman heard about the situation and was perplexed. “I was mortified actually,” Murman said about the situation.

On Wednesday, Hillsborough County Commissioners voted to approve the use of a county facility by Eckerd Youth Alternatives, Inc to house foster care youth. EYA will pay the county the cost of utilities. The provision will last into 2017. Hillsborough County will continue to be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the buildings.

Eckerd Youth Alternatives is paid $70 million in tax dollars to handle the placement of children taken from homes. On Wednesday afternoon, News Channel 8 will speak to Florida Governor Rick Scott about the situation