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Sarasota News Leader May 31, 2013 Page 11 been addicted to alcohol or drugs on a long- a couple of caseworkers to try to help people find the services they needed from community term basis," he pointed out. agencies, she noted. "I have a feeling there are Of all those graduates of the VIP-ER program a lot of caseworkers out there that are workwho could be located 12 months later, he said, ing for the various agencies and, I thought, 67 percent remained sober. The national aver- coordinating," Patterson added. "Is this someage for similar programs is about 10 percent, thing you guys are discussing?" he noted. "There are miracles occurring in Sarasota, and it's got to be one of the best- Benny Weaver, senior vice president for development at The Loveland Center and chairkept secrets in the world." man of the Community Alliance, responded, He offered more statistics from the VIP-ER "There's never been a truly collaborative efprogram: 71 percent of graduates who needed fort of all parties to see exactly what are the to get a GED had been able to do so; 69 per- situations that we can have an impact on." cent remained in stable housing; and 66 percent were employed, in training or in school. Discussions began last week — after city and county staff asked the Alliance for its help — A CITY-COUNTY APPROACH about how to resolve that, Weaver added. Commissioner Nora Patterson brought up the homelessness discussion City Manager Tom Barwin had broached when the City and County commissions held a joint meeting on Feb. 5 to consider numerous topics. Barwin sought county collaboration on the hiring of With about 1,200 homeless in Sarasota County, he continued, "We also know that there's a certain percentage of those — I don't care what you do, what services you provide — they're as happy as a tick on a dog: 'Don't bother me; leave me alone.' So you've got to set that seg- The Sarasota County Commission sits in session earlier this year. Photo by Norman Schimmel