Our Wins

Hope for Those with Mental Illness 

In 2016 SURE pressed for and won $2.4 million to fund a comprehensive treatment court program. This court serves up to 120 people facing homelessness and mental illness each year by getting them off the streets and into treatment. People who complete this program face 70% fewer charges the year after completion. 

Reducing Youth Arrests 

Sarasota used to arrest more children for minor offenses than Miami-Dade County. In 2015, SURE got the Chief Judge and all law enforcement agencies in the county to adopt a new program which saves money, works better, and keeps children’s records clean. Now, 70% of eligible children who come into contact with law enforcement receive a civil citation, rather than an arrest. 

Reducing Adult Arrests

After the success of our youth civil citations campaign, SURE pressed the State Attorney to create an adult civil citation program. Now adults who commit first time, non-serious misdemeanors will have the option to go through diversion rather than receive a life-long arrest record. Further, SURE pressed and got this program offered for FREE to those who can’t afford it.

Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation 

In 2009, SURE got the Sheriff’s office to commit to place a comprehensive drug and alcohol addiction recovery program into the county jail. Many in our own congregations were affected by drug and alcohol addiction and caught in the revolving door of offense, incarceration, release, and re-offense. Since then, this program has reduced recidivism amongst its participants by 60%. Over 2,000 inmates have benefitted from this program since 2009.

Other Issue Victories — 

  • In 2014, SURE got Sarasota County to put forward a resolution to give incentives to contractors from out of town to hire local workers. 

  • In the summer of 2011, SURE got Sarasota County to hold a foreclosure workshop which provided homeowners on-the-spot access to bank representatives, non-profit legal aid, and credit counselors. 84% of those who attended reported that they would be able to stay in their homes because of the workshop. 

  • In 2010, SURE got commitments from City Commissioners to create a small business incubator to target developing entrepreneurs in underserved communities - particularly the North Sarasota area. This resulted in hundreds of local jobs. 

  • In 2002, SURE pressed SCAT to expand bus routes to Longboat Key so that low-income workers could have access to jobs there. Currently, 2,805 passengers per month use this bus line, many of them for transportation to and from work.