Helping the Homeless in North Port

The City of North Port has added a full-time case manager to assist those experiencing the crisis of homelessness in southern Sarasota County.

The case manager—hired recently and based in North Port’s Family Service Center—will work with North Port Police Department’s Homeless Outreach Team and the City’s Social Services Division to help homeless individuals secure the support they need to attain permanent housing.

The goal of the Homeless Outreach Team is to engage homeless individuals and families in services to end their homelessness rather than enter them into the judicial system, which often has diminishing returns. Such outreach teams have been most successful in helping individuals overcome homelessness through a civilian case manager working alongside law enforcement. The case manager serves as a bridge to services and an advocate to surmount barriers.

North Port's new case manager position is jointly funded by Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, United Way of South Sarasota County, and the City of North Port. 

“This is an important step forward for Sarasota County as North Port stands up a full homeless outreach team,” said Jon Thaxton, senior vice president for community investment at Gulf Coast. “North Port residents will have a case manager who can assist them in accessing housing opportunities, and the City will gather information critical to planning for the future. This is a good day for our county-wide efforts to alleviate the suffering from homelessness."