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a structure at each location, Wayne Applebee, the county's homelessness coordinator, told the commissioners. SETTING A PRIORITY In their first related item of business Tuesday, the commissioners unanimously approved the ordinance renaming the Community Housing Fund the Housing and Community Development Fund. The new ordinance "places a priority on home- lessness and job program efforts," allowing Community Housing Trust funds to be used for construction of a homeless facility — such as a shelter or transitional housing — and support services. It also grants the county the flexibility to use the funds for job creation. County leaders emphasized the revised ordi- nance would not reassign money set aside for affordable housing. Robinson also suggested the $2.6 million be made available for services or buildings that could help people at risk of becoming home- less. The board approved that change as an amendment; however, Commissioner Nora Patterson said she was concerned there was not enough money to widen the county's mission, to help people at risk of becoming homeless as well as those who already have no place to live. Patterson added that the funds should be funneled directly into efforts to address homelessness, including construction of a shelter and adjunct facilities near a shelter. "We're trying to make a relatively small amount of money go a very long way," Patterson pointed out. A NEED In his interview with the News Leader, Hines said the need for a permanent shelter has been made evident. He pointed to the fact that both the city and county agreed to bring in Marbut — a nationally known consultant — and give him sufficient time to draft recommendations. Marbut came to Sarasota and saw a problem — one that will not go away if nothing is done, Hines said. Thus far, momentum has been building for a shelter. Area businesses continue to struggle with the homeless population in downtown Sarasota, and some residents have even told the city commissioners the presence of panhandlers is frightening at times. In addition, county Wayne Applebee is the county employee charged with carrying out consultant Robert Marbut's recommendations. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader January 31, 2014 Page 17