Former Homeless Man Earns Sarasota Honors

A man who once called the streets of Sarasota home has earned one of the city’s highest accolades for its employees. The City Commission has named Wes Byington its Employee of the Quarter.

Byington was once a tile installer who experienced unexpected circumstances that led him to homelessness, the city reported in a media release. Unable to afford a place to call his own, in 2013 he offered his services to the Salvation Army in Sarasota in exchange for a roof to put over his head.

That’s when Byington leaned about the Street Teams program. Launched in May 2012, the joint venture between the city and Salvation Army is designed to help homeless people gain job experience. The nonprofit enrolls participants in the program at no cost to them and provides them with meals, shelter and a daily routine. The city pays for the program and provides work for those enrolled in Street Teams to perform, including landscaping work and trash pickup.

When the offer was made to Byington to join the team, he did. His work, however, quickly caught the attention of Todd Kucharski, the city’s public works general manager. It didn’t take long for Kucharski to suggest that Byington apply for an open position.

Byington did and he landed the job. The decision is one Kucharski remains pleased he made.

“Not only is Wes a hard worker, but he’s very handy,” Kucharski said. “He has saved the City thousands of dollars by making repairs himself rather than hiring a contractor. To know that he was on the street without a home or job just a couple of years ago truly is remarkable. It’s a testament to his motivation and to the success of the Street Teams program.”

Byington worked on Street teams for nearly four months before landing a position with the city. Since he was hired on Nov. 20, 2013, he has earned two professional certifications and has been promoted twice. He now serves as the Reliability Maintenance Planner and is responsible for maintaining facilities at all of the city’s 49 parks. He is scheduled to graduate from a city supervisory training class later this month, as well.

“I’ve been so blessed with the opportunity that I’ve gotten with the City over the past two years,” said Byington. “There is opportunity out there. It comes with hard work and there are good results to it.”

To go from homeless to employee of the quarter isn’t something Byington was expecting.

“It’s overwhelming,” he said. “It really is.”

Since its inception, Street Teams has had about 500 participants. The graduation rate is 71.5 percent, which tops the program’s goal of 65 percent. Graduation essentially means an enrollee has landed full-time work and has obtained or is obtaining housing.

City commissioners intend to honor Byington during their Dec. 7 meeting.

Photo courtesy of the City of Sarasota