Sarasota News Leader

08/09/2013 & 08/16/2013

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Sarasota News Leader August 9 & 16, 2013 Page 9 ly" as it is known to its patrons, can sleep in excess of 300 people per night. Its proximity to downtown has vexed some residents since the day it opened its doors. Under Frizzell's predecessor, sleepers were charged $10 per night if they were not enrolled in an educational or rehabilitation program. Frizzell announced Wednesday he was cutting the rate to $7 per night. But for women, the rate will drop to $1 per night for the month of September, in an effort to provide females who are homeless and vagrant a more secure nighttime environment. Stories of rapes and beatings are common among women who live on the streets. Frizzell proposed yet another change in the rates for men. In the past, the $10 fee was waived for rain; a place to sleep became free. He called that "gambling," when people would stay away from the shelter, betting it would not rain and saving their $10. When drops started falling steadily, there would be a rush to get in the door. He would like to change that. "You know, Channel Seven studios [WXLT-TV, Channel 40] are across the street, and they give a weather forecast every night at 6 p.m.," Frizzell said. "I'm proposing if there is a 70 percent chance of rain, we drop [the rate] to $3. And for 80 percent, $2. And if there's a 90 percent chance of rain, it would be $1." The Salvation Army Shelter is located on 10th Street in Sarasota. Image courtesy of Google Maps NEW QUARTERS Two subsets of the homeless and vagrant populations are being singled out for special attention at the Sarasota Salvation Army. For older women, the news is a new facility. Dr. David Sutton said he is working to create a space upstairs, with private showers for them. Next month, he said, they will be able to stay there for $1 per night. Shelter for families was on Frizzell's agenda, too, on Wednesday. The space available consists of five dorms with 12 apartments, he said. People will be limited to two-week stays before they have to move out. The first week, the goal will be to help them rest; there will be no case management services. The second week, there will be intensive case management as"If it doesn't work, I'll change it again," Frizzell sistance to enable them to move out. "It is not added. "And I'm starting a birthday program. acceptable to keep families in a shelter," he Every month on the day of your birthday, say pointed out. it's the 25th, we'll give you seven days for one dollar a day for seven days. It allows us to be- To resolve the latter situation, Frizzell wants gin building a relationship." to locate 20 to 25 affordable housing units that

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