Addressing homelessness, by name

The following guest column by Gulf Coast President|CEO Mark Pritchett appeared in the January 18 edition of SRQ Daily:

“Homelessness can be overcome. It can be beaten back, snuffed out, and ultimately it will become a footnote in the greater story of Sarasota.” – Justin Creel, Program Manager, St. Vincent de Paul CARES

Think about how many times a day you’re addressed by name. The acknowledgment comes from colleagues, friends, and loved ones—it is something most of us take for granted, a given. For a homeless individual, merely hearing someone say their name could be the best part of their day, the only remaining piece of their past life. With no name recognition and people constantly avoiding eye contact on the sidewalks and from their cars, the homeless can begin to feel invisible.

Recently, some of those individuals were not only addressed by name but were able to publicly share their stories—and this time, it was a triumph. St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) CARES hosted its second move-in celebration to recognize individuals who have successfully moved into homes through the Suncoast Rapid Rehousing program and thanks to the network of service providers and donors who help make it possible.

“I remember seeing our friendly homeless neighbors and people on the streets asking for money growing up, and never did I think that could happen to me,” recalled Erin, one of the guests of honor. A rare born-and-raised Sarasotan, a hairstylist with Master Stylist training, a loving mother—Erin is not who you likely picture when you envision homelessness. “When I was 20 years old, I met a pain management doctor and traveled down a road that I sustained until I was about 30,” she said. “That was when I realized my life had become a crazy mess and that I needed to do something about it. I had lost my identity.”
Erin’s story is a familiar one on the Gulf Coast. Yet through perseverance and a system working hard for the nearly 600 known homeless Sarasotans, she is prevailing. “[SVdP CARES] went above and beyond. It almost brings me to tears how amazing and loving they are,” Erin said.

It takes a village

Alleviating the life-threatening condition of homelessness is complex. It cannot be solved by a single entity. SVdP CARES can help house the chronically homeless here because of the collaboration of many in Sarasota County. Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness is the lead agency coordinating referrals into the program. The Glasser/Schoenbaum Human Services Center offers affordable office space on a campus with other service providers. The Salvation Army – Sarasota provides a safe place for people to stay while SVdP staff is searching for rental units. The City of Sarasota and Sarasota County Homeless Outreach Teams build relationships with those in need of housing and connect them to services.

Reducing regional homelessness has long been a priority of Gulf Coast Community Foundation, with a particular focus on system improvements so homelessness becomes brief, rare, and non-recurring in Sarasota County. In 2017, an anonymous donor invested $1 million to launch the Suncoast Rapid Rehousing Program. This was a catalyst for other philanthropists who matched that contribution. In less than two years of operation, the program has successfully housed 87 households.

While there is no quick fix to end all homelessness, our region is making progress. Those who feel invisible are being seen thanks to the collaboration of service providers, local government, and philanthropists. Homelessness as an intractable social ill will ultimately be a footnote in Sarasota’s history.