Sarasota County, City leaders to explore integrated plans that include housing, 'triage' center

Posted by Jacob Ogles on Friday Nov 6, 2015 12:46 pm

At the end of a sometimes tense and sometimes concillatory meeting of Sarasota city and county commissioners, officials committed to exploring ways to help the chronically homeless both through options like permanent housing (often called Housing First) and a short-term triage center (often labeled a come-as-you-are shelter.)

"Everybody is frustrated. All want a solution," said Sarasota County Commissioner Christine Robinson. "We're closer now to a solution that we were a year and a half ago."

City officials for the first time in more than a year said they could support the opening of a triage shelter for the chornically homeless to be taken to before being sent to other appropriate services, but stressed there are still srong points of disagreement on location. Still, city commissioners unanimously supported moving ahead with combined efforts with the county to look at all options. "We all know where we are," said Sarasota CIty Commissioner Shelli Freeland Eddie. "We also know as a body we can't do this ourselves."

The city a year ago took on a posture of exploring housing options but not opening a new shelter, and Mayor Willie Shaw reiterated he is deeply concerned about opening a shelter in north Sarasota County. Several speakers who live in the Newtown area also voiced strong opposition to a shelter being put there, because while many social services are based there, adding a shelter could contirbute to blight.

County Commissioner Paul Caragiulo, who served on the city commission until his election to his current post in November, said that the city and county need not to focus in ways to integrate a city-backed housing program and a county-supported triage.

But while both boards ultimately voted unaimously to move ahead with county and city staff jointly exloring solutions, there concerns expressed from both governments. County Commissioner Charles Hines said he worries further delays will broadcast the boards are still incapable of solving the problem together, and suggested that the county may want to simply move forward with plans for a shelter. City Commissioner Susan Chapman reiterated that a majority of city commissioners remain opposed to seeing a shelter open within the city limits, and wants that kept in mind by staff as plans for a triage center are explored.

Filed under Government

Tags:   featured  Homelessness  Housing First  Sarasota City Commission  Sarasota County Commission  Triage Center

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