Second Heart Homes is expanding again, thanks to a $600,000 grant from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation. The nonprofit will use the funding to acquire and prepare another home in Sarasota or Manatee County, creating space for six people who have experienced homelessness and live with mental illnesses. The grant covers everything from appliances and furnishings to capital improvements and ongoing maintenance.
Beyond the physical house, the funding includes three years of individualized case management for each resident. That means personalized support connecting people to primary care, psychiatry, therapy, and income assistance while building the daily living skills that keep someone housed long-term. Second Heart Homes currently operates 14 homes serving 86 people across the region, and this new property will become its fifteenth.
Executive director and founder Megan Howell emphasized that the grant allows the organization to do more than just open a door. It gives them the ability to stay present in residents’ lives as they rebuild health and independence over time. As homelessness and mental health remain visible concerns along the Suncoast, this investment represents a concrete commitment to permanent housing rather than temporary fixes.
What do you think is the biggest barrier to solving homelessness in our community?
