County, city buy into homelessness plan

In four months Sarasota County and the city of Sarasota will have a plan to better deal with regional homelessness.

The two municipalities have agreed to spend a total of $40,300 split evenly to contract with Dr. Robert Marbut, a homelessness expert who recently spoke to community leaders at the Venetian Golf and River Club, according to a city news release.

Marbut's four-month study is split into the seven following phases:

+ Inventory of homelessness services
+ Needs assessment
+ Study of gap between needs and inventory — recommendations for new facilities
+ Meetings with municipal staff and community leaders
+ Provide municipalities with draft plan
+ Further briefings with municipal staff, elected and community leaders
+ Submit final plan

 Contact Alex Mahadevan at [email protected].