Nowhere to Go: When the Whole Family Carries the Weight
Nowhere to Go: When the Whole Family Carries the Weight
Part Two · Survivors, Children, Families, and Meaningful Review
Caring for survivors and caring for families are shared duties. People need safe housing, care, and room to heal. Part One looked at aging and barriers to care. This part turns to survivors, children, and families, and asks what real review and change would take.
Our updated October 18 analysis shows 7,234 people age 65 or older living in Florida communities with a permanent address and no transient address listed. Of those, 1,016 are age 80 or older.
Then comes a troubling finding: another 325 people age 65 or older, including 15 age 80 or older, are listed as transient with no permanent address recorded. These are older people trying to find stability, follow the rules, and grow old with dignity.
These community-record counts exclude records marked deceased or in custody. They do not cover everyone on the registry.
Think about those 325 people. A registry label cannot tell us where someone sleeps or whether they can get care. Behind each record is a person trying to get through a complex system.
Listen to what survivors need
Amber Vlangas, of Restorative Action Alliance, stressed that survivors have different needs and views. Her written presentation lists “To Be Believed,” “Acknowledgment of Harm,” and “Physical Safety.” It also names housing, counseling, help with work, and financial support. No survivor should be expected to forgive or care for the person who harmed them.
Amber Vlangas
Amber Vlangas · Executive Director, Restorative Action Alliance
Source: Oklahoma Senate · October 6, 2026 · Full hearing ↗
Children and families carry the weight
Senator Julie Daniels described how added restrictions can hurt children and family members of people on the registry. She also made clear that the original victims must not be forgotten. Both concerns deserve a place in this discussion.
A child did not choose a parent’s past. Yet when a parent cannot find work or a safe home, the whole household can feel the strain. Children deserve stability and a chance to grow without carrying an adult’s label.
Senator Julie Daniels
Senator Julie Daniels · Oklahoma Senate
Source: Oklahoma Senate · October 6, 2026 · Full hearing ↗
Trying to follow the rules
Treatment provider Brenda Carter described people who struggle to find housing, work, and money for treatment while trying to follow the rules. Her account asks us to look at daily life: How can people meet their duties when basic needs go unmet?
Brenda Carter
Brenda Carter · Treatment provider, Specialized Counseling PC
Source: Oklahoma Senate · October 6, 2026 · Full hearing ↗
Make review a path people can use
Judge Leah Edwards said a review process needs legal authority, funding, assessments, and access for people with little money or living in rural areas. She used a hypothetical brain-injury case to explain the gaps. A chance to ask for help means little if no one can afford or reach it.
Age alone does not tell us a person’s risk or needs. Careful review should consider safety, health, support, and the facts of each case.
Judge Leah Edwards
Judge Leah Edwards · District Judge, Judicial District 21
Source: Oklahoma Senate · October 6, 2026 · Full hearing ↗
Sources and review limits
- Official hearing date, roster, and materials
- RAA written presentation, page 11
- Full Oklahoma Senate hearing
Florida figures: personal analysis dated October 18, 2026. Community records cover people listed as released or under supervision with a Florida permanent or transient address. Five additional records for people age 65 or older list both address types and fall outside the two groups above. Each age-80-and-older count is included in its age-65-and-older group. Address fields do not prove actual sleeping conditions or care access.
Testimony summaries are paraphrases based on official caption records; final audio review is pending. The short quotations above come from the written presentation, not verified speech. This hearing did not itself change the law.
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Good morning God bless. I had a question for the Fac family. Is there any thing in the Glass case that is trying to help reduce the time we have to stay on the registry before we can petition the court or the verbiage of being on the register 25 years without a felony arrest or misdemeanor arrest? What if there was a false arrest or there was an arrest where the case was dismissed Is there anything in the Glass case addressing that? Thank you God bless.
There is not. That is a separate issue.
Does the ex post facto have any correlation to that issue?
Yes, it would roll back the 2007 Amendment that moved the finish line from 20 years to 25 years
Thank you bless you🙏🏽
One more question will Florida adopt or consider adopting sornas tiered system process? Thank you if not, that’s something we can shoot for in legislation?
That would be up to the legislature and there is nothing pending on that front.
Is there a way to get this topic in front of legislators? if so, how do we start the process? Thank you.
Reach out to your legislators. Contact FAC and ask to be involved with our Legislative Committee