Man Dies at Homeless Shelter

A man died of unknown causes at a county-run homeless shelter Saturday morning.

The male client, age 46, was found unresponsive in an outdoor courtyard housing area at around 8:15 a.m., deputies report. The man’s identity is being withheld pending family notification.

An inmate worker tried to wake the man for breakfast, but he did not respond, deputies report. Safe Harbor staff tried to resuscitate the man until paramedics arrived. Paramedics could not revive the man. He was pronounced dead at 8:30 a.m., deputies report.

The cause of death is still to be determined. Deputies report no signs of trauma.

The man stayed at the shelter regularly since he registered there on Aug. 18, deputies said. He was reportedly acting disruptive Friday night, and according to shelter rules, escorted to the outdoor courtyard area to sleep. The courtyard area is covered and he was provided a portable bed and blanket, deputies report.

The investigation is ongoing.

Pinellas Safe Harbor is a 7-month-old facility in Clearwater that serves about 335 people per night. The shelter seeks to house and rehabilitate repeat minor offenders without a home, who would otherwise load the county jail system. It is equipped to house 470 people per day.

Update: In a previous version of this story the man who died at the shelter was said to be 47 years old. New reports from the Sheriff's Office state his age is 46.