Sarasota city officials are backing a plan to offer transportation out of town to some of the people living on the streets.
The City Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to place $1,000 in a "Homeward Bound fund" that would help finance that one-way travel.
"Where the local homeless outreach team has funding to return people to their home communities and their families when there is a recipient on the other end willing to meet them," Sarasota City Manager Tom Barwin told WWSB-TV.
City officials hope the money will be matched by donations from the public. The city is partnering in the effort with local charities, including Resurrection House and the Salvation Army, but is seeking more control as it contributes money.
The Herald-Tribune reports that A few people already have been reunited with family.
Similar efforts have gone wrong elsewhere. Last year, the city of San Francisco sued the state of Nevada for allegedly busing mental patients to California to avoid the cost of treating them.
