Pictured: Second Heart Homes provides lasting solutions to combat homelessness. Provided photo.

Second Heart Homes—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2019—provides housing and critical services to homeless adults in the Sarasota and Bradenton areas who are committed to addressing their mental health and rebuilding their lives. 

Founder and Executive Director Megan Howell notes that homelessness and housing issues in the region have escalated dramatically. “The housing crisis is affecting people of all ages at a higher rate than ever,” she explains. “Probably half the residents in our program are over 55, and it’s so sad–you work your whole life, and maybe one unfortunate thing happens and what do you do? Home ownership is probably not an option for a lot of people in those circumstances.”

Most Second Heart Homes residents are seeking employment and trying to navigate complex systems for self-sufficiency, but face increasing bureaucratic obstacles. “We tend to think of homelessness as something for bad people or people who made mistakes,” says Howell. “Some of those things can be true but it can also come from things that are out of our power. We all have to look in ourselves personally and say, ‘what can I do to help’ and that includes sacrifice and unique solutions to solve the issues of housing insecurities.”

Second Heart Homes operates without government funding, mortgages or debt. According to Howell, its sustainability depends entirely on public support, with donors recognizing that housing—supported by care and compassion—is the foundation of lasting solutions to homelessness.

One major hurdle remains the rising cost of properties and ‘not in my backyard’ resistance. The organization addresses these challenges by listening to concerns and clarifying its mission. With support from the Barancik Foundation, Second Heart Homes uses 85 performance metrics to track residents’ progress in areas such as physical and mental health, employment, social well-being and family reunification.

To learn more, visit secondhearthomes.org/

Pictured: Second Heart Homes provides lasting solutions to combat homelessness. Provided photo.