Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/360116
City Commissioner Shannon Snyder, who had been a supporter of the initiative to build a shelter, reversed his vote, becoming a linch- pin in the city's withdrawal. "In response to Chairman [Charles] Hines [sic] letter of July 9, 2014 the Sarasota City Commission voted unanimously at last night's city commission meeting to withdraw from the process to locate a site for a come as you are, jail diversion shelter within the City of Sarasota," Barwin wrote County Administrator Tom Harmer on July 22. "Therefore the [ten- tative] joint meeting in September to review possible city and county sites will not be nec- essary to schedule." IN THE MEANTIME … Atwell said she is happy The Salvation Army is stepping up efforts to address homeless- ness. She also cites city efforts to hire a social worker and the Police Department's steps to employ a Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) to assist homeless people on the street. "We are doing a lot right now in the meantime," Atwell pointed out. Barbetta thinks that without a shelter to serve homeless adults — including resources to help them find jobs — the community's home- less population and problems will only get worse, something homelessness consultant Robert Marbut has told the two local govern- ment boards. "I live in the city, and I see it every day," Barbetta said. Barbetta believes The Salvation Army is poised to help but that the organization can- not address all the relevant issues on its own. "The merchants are not happy at all. They come in every morning, constantly every On April 1, the City and County commissioners heard from a panel that included Police Chief Bernadette DiPino and Sheriff Tom Knight. Photo by Norman Schimmel Sarasota News Leader August 8 & 15, 2014 Page 40