Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/305631
in the first quarter of the year — "completed program." Fourteen left for "housing oppor- tunity," and two "reached maximum time allowed in program." The remainder fell into "noncompliance with program" (50), "criminal activity" (60) and "disagreement with rules" (234). Combined with the 4,653 who could not meet curfew, a total of 4,997 did not express a willingness to change their behavior. That is 98 percent of the people who entered the shelter in 2013. WHAT IS THE ANSWER? When PSH opened, the Sheriff's Office fed the occupants. In 2011, it served 228,102 meals; the following year, the number was 69,527. The Metropolitan Ministries began to help and by May 2012, it was serving three meals a day, taking over from the Sheriff's Office. In 2013, the Ministries provided 335,350 meals. If you divide that last number by the 142 peo- ple that year who moved into non-subsidized rental housing or bought a home, it took 2,362 free meals to move one person into hous- ing. If you use the number of people who "completed program," that indicated it took 168,675 free meals for a person to make the transition. Assuming an individual eats three meals a day, that would be 153 years of meals. % Manuel R. Chepote, LUTCF Chepote Insurance Inc. 1300 Main Street • Sarasota, Florida (941) 366-0100 Serving Sarasota & Manatee Counties agents.allstate.com/manuel-r-chepote-sarasota-fl.html Click for driving directions Auto • Home • Life Renters • Motorcycles Flood • Business • Annuities Financial Services Sarasota News Leader May 2, 2014 Page 12