Sarasota News Leader

08/08/2014 & 08/15/2014

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In therapy, two divergent groups often will be ushered into a room and given a common goal. "And they work together to solve the prob- lem," said City Commissioner Suzanne Atwell, a clinical psychologist. That is, if everything goes well. When it comes to the controversial topic of planning, funding and building a come- as-you-are homeless shelter in or near the city, Atwell predicts that city and county elected officials will come together in the same fashion. But it will take some time and the outcome might be different from what anyone expects. Atwell, who voted with her fellow commis- sioners last month to withdraw from efforts to plan a shelter, acknowledges how tough it was to find a site for the facility. She said the County Commission, which was unan- imous in support of a shelter, and the City Commission — with two members ada- mantly opposed to a city location from the outset — were never truly working in unison. The County Commission Chambers was mostly full on Nov. 25, 2013, when homelessness consultant Robert Marbut presented his recommendations to the City and County commissions. Photo by Norman Schimmel A PARTNERSHIP ASUNDER WHETHER THE CITY AND COUNTY CAN STILL WORK TOGETHER TO BUILD A COME-AS-YOU-ARE HOMELESS SHELTER DEPENDS ON WHOM YOU ASK I think the rope has been cut and the ties have been cut. Joe Barbetta Commissioner Sarasota County By Roger Drouin County Editor

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