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"The burden is unfairly falling on the city's shoulders," said Shaw. "There needs to be better equity and planning. Is the county expecting the city to fund the operations of this new homeless center?" Chapman was equally concerned. "What we have to know, and what we really haven't talked about, we're undertaking this huge endeavor and haven't talked about 'Does it really work?'" she pointed out. "We have to raise these questions before we finish consid- eration of this plan." 'SABOTAGE' CHARGED A week later, County Commissioner Barbetta responded to the need for more information. "It's most unfortunate what took place with two of the [city] commissioners. I can see an apparent plan of action to sabotage this process," he said during his board's regular meeting on Jan. 28. "I'm not afraid to say this, because I saw the [city] meeting. It is really sad they are going to hold this program up." Barbetta was not alone. Commission Chairman Charles Hines told Sarasota News Leader County Editor Roger Drouin, "Dr. Marbut said the worst thing is to do nothing and debate this." Hines added, "Is there a per- fect place to put [the shelter]? No, there never is. And no one wants to spend the money. But it has to get done." That day, the County Commission voted to reallocate the $2.5 million remaining from the North Port escheated land sales for the pro- posed shelter and related homeless services. The money previously was set aside just for affordable housing. Yet, affordable housing is exactly where another study says the money is most needed. On the afternoon of Jan. 23, a team consisting of two Harvard graduates, two Harvard stu- dents working on their master's degrees and six New College of Florida students reported its findings on how to develop transitional housing for the homeless and vagrants who have found jobs and need real shelter. The team was put together with grant money given to The Salvation Army in Sarasota, which has been looking for ways to relieve the overcrowding of its facilities. The research found that 96.6 percent of subsidized apart- ments in town are occupied. More than half of the county's renters are paying more than half of their paychecks for shelter. The study was commissioned by Maj. Ethan Frizzell, the local Salvation Army's new commander. He and his wife arrived in Sarasota last June. Another report yet to be delivered on shelters for the homeless and vagrants is expected out Valerie Guillory continues to provide for the homeless at her facility near Gillespie Park in Sarasota. Photo by Stan Zimmerman Sarasota News Leader January 31, 2014 Page 39