About Us
The Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness was formed by community leaders from Sarasota and Manatee Counties in 2005, with the ambitious vision of ending homelessness in the region.
The Suncoast Partnership is the lead agency for the Continuum of Care (CoC), and as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization is governed by a Board of Directors. The Suncoast Partnership is the collaborative applicant for federal grants for the CoC and the lead agency and recipient of the State of Florida Unified Grant.
The Suncoast Partnership provides administrative and strategic support for the two-county Continuum of Care (CoC). By advocating for on going improvements in our crisis response system for individuals and families who are homeless and those at risk of homelessness, the Suncoast Partnership believes that the community as a whole will have a better quality of life.
Regional coordination is aided by the use of the Community Services Information System (CSIS), managed by the Suncoast Partnership, a tool that community case managers can use to assist those who are homeless as they map out personalized plans to become permanently housed. HMIS also helps effectively evaluate performance and reduce duplication in services. The Suncoast Partnership is funded by local governments, the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as private donations.
The mission of the Suncoast Partnership shall be to prevent and end homelessness throughout Manatee and Sarasota counties. The Suncoast Partnership will provide leadership to the communities on issues relating to homelessness through engagement and collaboration with business and civic leaders, service providers, faith-based organizations, advocates, concerned citizens and people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Board of Directors Meeting Schedule can be found here.
The purposes for which the Suncoast Partnership is organized are exclusively for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Board of Directors
Philip Gorelick - Chair
Advocate
Martin Poretsky- Vice Chair
Advocate
Michael Richker- Treasurer
G.R.A.S.P
Chris Johnson- Secretary
Chief Executive Officer
Erick Arroyo
City of Sarasota
Pamela Fields Esq.
Legal Aid of Manasota, Inc.
Marcella Levin
Advocate
David Moore
Advocate
Rita Smith
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
Misty Servia
Manatee County Commission
Many thanks to Ali Kleber and Paul Sutton for more than 6 years of commitment and Rita Smith for her time as Board Chair.
Suncoast Partnership Staff
Chris Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
Tara Booker
Chief Operating Officer
Brandon Bellows
Chief Information Officer
Amiee Barth
System Administrator
Nick Bell
Outreach and Diversion
Brian Wright
Empowerment Coach
Lauren Davis
Project Manager
Wendy McNaughton
Assessment and Diversion - Sarasota Families
Erin Brady
Veteran Project Manager
Devon Jarrett
Program Coordinator
Taylor Neighbors
Contracts and Grants Manager
Libny Lopez
Coordinated Entry Intake
Laura Williams
Program Specialist
Nicole Bonito
Program Specialist
Ryan Ferace
Systems Analyst
Lauren Bowen
Project Manger, Housing
Kevin Marshall
Housing Specialist
Contact us by calling at (941) 955-8987
The Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, Inc.
1750 17th Street C-1 Sarasota, FL 34234
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For Media Inquiries, Please Contact:
Chris Johnson, ext. 104
