Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/166173
Sarasota News Leader September 6, 2013 Page 9 profit organization directors, homeless service During an interview Monday, Sept. 2, with The providers, church leaders and just about every Sarasota News Leader, Marbut shared some elected official in the county. of those initial thoughts. He thinks some good He also has spent time with people who are work is under way, in many cases by nonprofhomeless, including some families living in its working on shoestring budgets. But Sarasota County government officials and other their cars in parking lots. leaders need to take bold action, he points Marbut's goal is to write a report to turn in to out — or the homeless population here will Sarasota city and county officials. increase 20 to 30 percent in a few years. "The faster I get that report, the better," he BUILDING SOLUTIONS said. Then the real work begins, Marbut pointed out. But having traveled to about 600 communities in 22 states for his work, he already can offer observations after just a short time in Sarasota. Marbut does not call facilities that house homeless people "shelters." "A shelter is somewhere you put people and lock the key," he noted. Homeless people gather along Central Avenue in downtown Sarasota in February. Photo by Norman Schimmel