Homelessness consultant to discuss shelter options

Less than a month after participating in two community forums to gather public input on homelessness, Sarasota County consultant Robert Marbut is back in town to address commissioners Tuesday.

Marbut will present to county commissioners a report card evaluating the region’s progress on his 12-point plan for tackling homelessness, which includes three As, three Bs, one C and an F. The absence of a 24-hour, come-as-you-are shelter remains as the biggest stumbling block for addressing local homelessness, according to the report.

"Based on my research and observations to date," Marbut wrote in the report. "A Public Safety Triage and Stabilization Unit is critically needed in order to successfully address street-level and chronic homelessness in Sarasota."

Plans for such a shelter stalled last year, as the county and city could not agree on a location within city limits.

But, Marbut has recommended three alternatives to a come-as-you-are shelter within the city: consolidate 24-hour homeless services within the Salvation Army on 10th Street or Harvest House on North Lime Avenue, or build a shelter outside of city limits.

"The one and only real down side of (the latter option) is it would extend the 'crumb trail' longer than it would be if it was within the city of Sarasota closer to existing agencies such as the crisis units," Marbut wrote.

As in community workshops last month, Marbut in his report continued to praise the county's progress on helping homeless children and families.