WELCOME BACK: Addressing the homeless

An attempt to construct a shelter for the region’s homeless population ended in acrimony for the city and county, with both governments abandoning their search following a dispute over the site of the project.

In the meantime, groups of businesses and residents throughout the city have periodically lodged complaints about problems stemming from an influx of homeless individuals. Although the city has focused on cracking down on those issues when they arise, they tend to reappear elsewhere.

HELTER SHELTER
Although a segment of the City Commission — and city residents — always opposed the construction of a come-as-you-are homeless shelter within the city limits, issues surrounding the shelter became more severe in June.

That’s when cost estimates for constructing a shelter at the top two sites, which consultant Robert Marbut selected and the city and county approved, became public — and totaled $8.9 million and $9.2 million, respectively.

At a joint meeting that month, both the city and county commissions voted to pass on those two sites.
Both boards agreed to push forward at the time, but the relationship quickly deteriorated. The County Commission sent a letter to city commissioners in July, asking if the group was still interested in pursuing a shelter. In response, the city decided it was no longer interested in a come-as-you-are shelter within the city limits.

The County Commission responded to the city in kind, ending its search in August until the city rejoined the conversation.

POPULATION GROWTH
Near the heart of the city, complaints have arisen regarding issues stemming from the homeless population.

Earlier in the year, the city and Sarasota police endeavored to clear three parks near the downtown area of large gatherings of homeless individuals. Those efforts were successful — but in May, downtown merchants said Main Street had become the newest hub for similar problems.

City Attorney Robert Fournier pointed to the effective campaigns to stamp out illicit behavior at Five Points Park, Pineapple Park and J.D. Hamel Park, and suggested the issue was instead related to enforcement.
Budget issues hamper the Sarasota Police Department’s ability to constantly patrol the areas in question. Downtown merchants have frequently discussed the possibility of bringing in private security to help eliminate the issues, as well.

The problems largely disappeared from Main Street quickly after it was brought to the city’s attention. In September, business owners, employees and residents in the Rosemary District appeared before the City Commission to register a series of similar complaints.

Within the past month, those speakers said, the character of the homeless population in the area had changed. The new individuals were disrespectful to their surroundings, they said, yelling and fighting and leaving waste on private property.

Police agreed to patrol the Rosemary District more regularly once those complaints were registered, but similar issues have recently recurred in the Gillespie Park neighborhood. One of the Rosemary District employees affected, WSLR Station Manager Arlene Sweeting, suggested a renewed focus on the underlying issues was necessary.

“I don’t like when I see it becoming an us-versus-them issue,” Sweeting said.

WHAT: At the beginning of the year, the city and county were in the process of searching for a site for a regional come-as-you-are homeless shelter. Now, those talks have ended with no site in place, and homelessness issues persist in neighborhoods throughout the city.

WHO’S INVOLVED: The city of Sarasota; Sarasota County; merchants, residents and property owners downtown and in the Rosemary District

WHAT’S NEXT: Although the city and county have ended the search for a come-as-you-are shelter, both municipalities are working on implementing other recommendations from consultant Robert Marbut.

What's the buzz
“We have ordinances that are working that are in place. I’m always willing to look at them or refine them if we have a particular record of a problem.” — City Attorney Robert Fournier

“I have no faith this thing is going to continue forward. (The county) has done everything we possibly can.” — County Commissioner Joe Barbetta

“Having a come-as-you-are shelter is not what we need in the city of Sarasota. Allowing people to drop by whenever they get dropped off by someone other than law enforcement is not benefitting us.” — City Commissioner Shannon Snyder

“I’m from Detroit. I’ve been to the worst parts of Detroit, and, honest, I’ve never been afraid for my life until the last month.” — Bill Cornellius, co-owner of the Blue Rooster, on new homelessness issues in the Rosemary District