Run ins between Sarasota's homeless and law enforcement has Sarasota's City-County Homeless Advisory Task Force looking for ways to better serve the homeless population. 

The City-County Homeless Advisory Task Force was created late last year after a couple of high profile stories involved police and the homeless. Its most recent idea: hire caseworkers.

City manager Tim Barwin says hiring 3 case workers would help homeless individuals connect with mental health and substance abuse services.
"Part of what needs to happen here is also a compassionate approach to those who are suffering from some pretty serious and chronic problems", said Barwin.

Barwin says The Sarasota Community Foundation, working with the task force, just received an anonymous $60,000 contribution to hire a casework coordinator. They're hoping to hire someone by next month.