Second Heart Homes, Inc.

Second Heart Homes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides housing and critical support services to homeless adults with mental health illnesses in Sarasota and Manatee, Florida, counties. 

Our high-touch, tailored-service approach sets us apart from other homelessness nonprofits by providing long-term housing and specialized care that revives dignity, establishes stability, and teaches independence. 

Residents come to us based on their commitment to address their mental health, remain sober and achieve personal goals toward self-sufficiency.

We began when our founder, Megan Howell, was able to help a severely mentally ill gentleman off the street who had been homeless for 25 years. Today, we have 11 homes that provide 68 beds for those most in need. We do without direct support from government funding and no mortgages. We rely on the support of the community to be a part of the solution.

Residents in our program receive independent housing with supportive case management services, regular wellness checks, employment services, accountability and, of course, love.

When residents are in our program, they are off the streets which leads to reduction in crisis medical care, law enforcement and despair.

What’s the Need?

• 1 in 4 homeless individuals has a chronic mental illness. 
• The problem is cyclical. Mental illness is the number one cause of homelessness and homelessness is the number one cause of mental illness. 
• Our community’s “Point in Time” survey shows that the best-case scenario is that there are at least 1,000 homeless single adults within Sarasota and Manatee counties. 
• Who needs our services? Many individuals who need our services come from backgrounds of lack of support, abuse, trauma, neglect, foster care, limited resources and opportunities. We specifically serve homeless single adults with mental illnesses who have a commitment to addressing their conditions, learning skillsets and being a productive part of the community.