Pictured: Students from Sarasota Military Academy presented the colors at the Heroes’ Village ceremony last week. Photo by Barbie Heit.

Gulf Coast Community Foundation celebrated the opening of Heroes’ Village, Sarasota’s first affordable housing project dedicated to veterans, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, April 30. Located on 25th Street, west of Orange Avenue and near the bus line, Heroes’ Village offers ten rental units for low-income veterans.

The vision for Heroes’ Village prioritized housing North Sarasota County veterans near existing support services, explained Gulf Coast’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, Jon Thaxton. While the units are compact, they include laundry facilities and communal outdoor space, and with donated features from Home Depot, such as tiled floors and wood cabinets, the units feature all the comforts of home. Residents will pay only thirty percent of their income for rent and sign annual leases, fostering responsibility and security. The units will be managed by St. Vincent de Paul CARES, a nonprofit with a successful track record of building and operating affordable housing for veterans. Navigators from the organization will also be available to help veterans access services.

The ceremony commenced with a presentation by the Sarasota Military Academy and a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by Jazzmin Carson of the West Coast Black Theater Troupe. In his opening remarks, Thaxton acknowledged the collaborative effort that transformed the initial vision into a reality. “When we started, everybody said it couldn't be done. And so sitting here today, having it accomplished is a really great feeling, but it's a feeling that has to be shared because nothing like this happens in isolation.” He gave thanks to donors, including the city of Sarasota, which donated the land.

Gulf Coast President/CEO Phillip Lanham underscored the community’s duty to support veterans. He noted that affordable housing is a key priority for the foundation and that Heroes’ Village was inspired by donors Peter Soderberg and Skip Sack, both passionate about assisting veterans. This project represents a convergence of priorities: affordable housing and support for veterans.

Lanham shared that the community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive. Neighbors have expressed gratitude for the project’s thoughtful approach, including the aesthetically pleasing design and a striking 35-foot mural honoring veterans painted by Tim Jaeger. “The nearby residents appreciate the approach we took with this project, and they are incredibly grateful that we made sure it was something that would add to this community, not take away from it,” he said.

Applications for veteran and family housing are still being accepted through St. Vincent de Paul CARES (https://www.svdpsp.org/). Move-ins are anticipated to begin in May or June of this year.

Pictured: Students from Sarasota Military Academy presented the colors at the Heroes’ Village ceremony last week. Photo by Barbie Heit.