Manatee County launches Under One Roof program to help families avoid homelessness

Manatee County officials are polishing up an old sheriff’s office building to give local families an opportunity to avoid homelessness and connect with helpful resources.

Commissioner Amanda Ballard is spearheading a new community partnership that is expected to provide transitional housing for up to 30 families at a time. The initiative will rely on private nonprofits and other social services. The wide array of resources is where the facility takes its name — Under One Roof.

In addition to the housing, Ballard also envisions a wide array of community resources in an administration center on the property, which can provide counseling, tutoring, job employment opportunities and more. Those services will also be available for families who are not living on-site.

“This front section will have all of the services that a family would need, basically, to improve their own lives and get that hand up,” Ballard said.

In a tour of the facility along 57th Avenue East just south of State Road 70, county officials laid out their vision for the 3.5-acre property that most recently served as a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office work release facility.

The county will maintain ownership of the building, while nonprofit social service organizations use the facility to provide housing and other support services, Ballard said. So far, county officials have put $600,000 toward remodeling the building.

By the end of the year, officials hope to have at least one family living on the property. Ballard said families are intended to stay at the Under One Roof complex for up to four months while they save money, connect with the proper resources and find a permanent home.

“We’re really trying to give these families a genuine opportunity to make a change,” Ballard said. “So this isn’t just one or two nights or one or two weeks and then you’re out.”

Manatee facility to house homeless families

The Under One Roof facility will require a significant facelift before it can begin housing families, which the county defines as any group that includes at least one child. County officials say the building’s handcuff benches and restricted areas associated with the criminal justice system will make way for library areas and playgrounds that are child-centered.

“I think that with the work that we’re doing to rehab this place and really make it family-friendly, I think people will feel very comfortable, very welcome — and that it can really be a place that they can be with their family, make those changes that they need and not have to worry for a few months,” Ballard said when asked about the perception of temporary housing in a former sheriff’s office facility.

In the coming weeks, county staff will work to make the building more inviting, with new flooring, replaced ceilings and furniture to make the facility feel like home.

According to Ballard, the decision to require eligibility to involve children is to create a sense of community among residents in the temporary housing. Using public gathering areas, such as the dining hall, the goal is to create connection through shared experiences, she said.

“A lot of times, single individuals are dealing with different issues than a family is, so we want to make sure we’re putting people in a place where they can best succeed and so that kids feel safe and comfortable,” Ballard said.

Other housing support programs coming

Manatee County Government is still working to determine which nonprofit agency will be in charge of the residential area. Once decided, that nonprofit will handle applications for families in need, Ballard said.

Using adjustable walls, the living spaces at the Under One Roof facility can be resized as needed. There are also storage areas for families to hold larger belongings, such as sofas and dressers, until they move into permanent housing.

County officials are on track to add more housing assistance for residents who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the coming months. On Tuesday, the Manatee County Commission approved a land donation to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which plans to provide 122 affordable housing units along Cortez Road for veterans.

The county is also working on a separate program called Fresh Start Manatee that is geared toward providing single residents a similar experience to the Under One Roof facility, with transitional housing and social services available for up to 200 people at a time. Ballard said officials will share more details on that program at a later date.