Safe Children Coalition Holds Groundbreaking for New Youth Shelter

March 7, 2025 | Sarasota

As Safe Children Coalition (SCC) continues its campaign to build a new Youth Shelter for homeless teens in our community, the organization took some time to celebrate the progress of the campaign as well as the generous individuals, companies and foundations that have provided crucial support. On February 26, SCC held a ceremonial groundbreaking on the site where a brand new Youth Shelter will be built, enabling the organization to expand its ability to protect and provide crucial services for youths and teens who are homeless or unaccompanied.

The event included remarks from SCC President and CEO Brena Slater, VP Jacqueline House – who is spearheading the fundraising campaign, Board Chair Tony Gamelin, architect Rick Oswald (CMSA Architects), and construction manager Brian Leaver (Tandem Construction).

In attendance were a number of major donors to the effort as well as representatives from our area foundations and the design and construction teams contributing to the facility. Florida State Rep. Fiona McFarland, who has been instrumental in securing a total of $1.75 million in state appropriations over the past two years, was also present.

The goal for the new Youth Shelter – which will be located on Sawyer Road in north Sarasota, on two acres of land – is to reduce waiting lists for homeless youths and protect more at-risk teens in our community. The nearly 9,000-square-foot building will provide safe temporary emergency housing for youths ages 10-17, providing nearly 3,000 safe shelter bed-nights a year and serving up to 200 youth annually for many years to come.

Thus far, the Youth Shelter Campaign has raised over $7.6M, representing well over 80% of SCC’s Phase I goal of $9 million.

“I think I’m the most excited person at this groundbreaking today! I remember the early conversations when this building was just a dream and now we are closer than ever to making it a reality,” said Slater during her remarks. “Being here today brings me full circle: when I started my child welfare career, it was at a youth shelter. I fell in love with the positive changes I saw in the children there. Now, all these many years later, it’s serendipitous that I would have the honor of building a brand-new youth shelter here.”

The Youth Shelter is the only facility designated for homeless teens in Sarasota and DeSoto counties; it serves youth from Manatee County as well. Many of the teens served enter the shelter because of a mental health crisis and/or a parent’s inability to cope with a youth’s behavioral issues. In recent years, the SCC Youth Shelter has been at or near the top in facility utilization out of the 16 shelters in the Florida network, exceeding contracted bed days.

For more about Safe Children Coalition, or to inquire how you can support the Youth Shelter campaign, visit sccyouthshelter.org or contact Jacqueline House at jhouse@sccfl.org or 941-371-4799, ext. 1127.