Sarasota city officials approved an eight-point plan to tackle homelessness that involves, among other things, making sure the homeless aren’t all funneled into the city of Sarasota. The newly approved Barwin Plan, which involves a pivot from a shelter system toward a housing first model, could potentially alter both where chronically homeless are centered in the county and disperse the solutions throughout the Sarasota County community. 

“This would interrupt this funnel that has been in process for many years,” said City Manager Tom Barwin, who said the current approach to homelessness, involving the syphoning of vagrants into the county jail or toward social services located in the city, results in a disproportionate number of homeless people living in Sarasota. 

The City Commission approved an eight-point plan, but not without some discussion. Mayor Willie Shaw stressed he does not want a homeless portal, part of the plan, to resemble too close the come-as-you-are shelter proposed in the county-supported and controversial Marbut Report commissioned last year. And Commissioner Suzanne Atwell said she doesn’t want a city plan that cuts county officials out; the Barwin plan calls for hiring a director of special initiatives with a salary of $80,000 to $100,000 to handle homeless initiatives, and Atwell suggested county Homeless Services Coordinator Wayne Applebee be on a selection committee.

The program also still must address sustainable funding. Barwin would like the county to consider placing a referendum on the ballot for a county-wide assessment that helps pay for issues related to transitional housing.