Could Bradenton’s old downtown jail fill a ‘big gap’ in services for homeless veterans?
Manatee County plans to inject new life into an abandoned jail building in downtown Bradenton by using federal stimulus money to significantly expand services for struggling veterans.
The 80,000-square-foot building is connected to the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., but has sat dormant for the past 15 years. County officials say millions of dollars provided by the American Rescue Plan could turn the vacant facility into a full-fledged center to assist homeless veterans.
When it opens, the service center could become the first of its kind in the area. The Manatee Board of County Commissioners envisions providing wraparound services for service members, such as temporary housing, counseling and other social support.
“What we want to do is make sure that the people who protect the freedom we rest upon understand that we support them on the issues that arise throughout their time of service,” said Commissioner Reggie Bellamy, an Army veteran who previously called on his fellow board members to “move the needle” on homeless veterans.
The county will get $78 million from the American Rescue Plan stimulus package that President Joe Biden signed into law last year. Board members agreed to set aside $2 million of that money to design the facility and $13 million to begin renovating the old jail.
“It’s a massive amount of space and volume that I believe we can utilize to create really the most comprehensive services for helping veterans who are homeless to leave homelessness behind them and actually help them in all these levels of transition as they go through life,” said County Administrator Scott Hopes.
The commissioners have already voted to approve Hopes’ plan for spending the American Rescue Plan money, but now they need to answer questions on which services are needed and which to provide. They also need to find more funding to complete the project by securing partnerships and donations.
‘A big gap’ in services for homeless veterans
Manatee already operates a dedicated veterans services center. Veterans and their families can visit the facility at 1401 Third Ave. W. in Bradenton to access several benefits, such as injury claims, supplemental income and burial services.
County leaders envision remodeling the Old Jail facility to provide shelter for local homeless veterans who don’t have anywhere else to go. The center is expected to provide temporary housing, mental health services, job training and other resources.
“There’s so much more that can be done with that facility than just a basic conversion,” said Hopes, who explained that the solid concrete construction and the ongoing climate control have left the building’s interior in great condition.
Kathleen Cramer, executive director of the Turning Points homeless resource center, praised the county’s plan. With Manatee County becoming a bigger player in social services, she looks forward to government officials assisting with coordination between local service centers.
“The most important thing is that our veterans get the services they need. That is the most critical thing,” Cramer said. “Agencies serving veterans will be able to come together. We’ll be able to move forward the conversation and have providers really see things clearly, identify the gaps and adjust accordingly.”
The new facility could provide services that aren’t available right now, said Cramer, pointing to the Manatee County’s plans for post-acute care. When homeless veterans receive medical attention at local hospitals, they’re usually discharged without a place to stay.
“When individuals are experiencing homelessness, they use the emergency room as their primary care,” Cramer noted. “We see it regularly where they go in for surgery and they go back out into homelessness. There’s a big gap there.”
Old jail finds new purpose
The old jail first opened in 1984. The first three floors held courtrooms, office space for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, and a kitchen to feed the inmates housed on the three upper floors. After the sheriff’s office relocated jail operations to Port Manatee, the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization began using it as an immigration detention center.
In 2008, the county finished the construction of the Judicial Center downtown. The nine-story building was built as an attachment to the old jail, with separate entrances. While proposed uses for the old jail have been discussed in the past, none ever materialized.
Most recently, a 2016 proposal to turn it into an affordable housing complex fizzled out quickly after former Sheriff Brad Steube and other high-ranking officials said the idea presented significant safety concerns.
“There was a lot of push-back from the judges and things like that, but when we started talking about it being for veterans, people said that’s a really great idea, especially with a separate, secure entrance from the judicial building,” Hopes said. “We’ve landed on a great purpose that’s long overdue.”
County’s unique effort may boost fundraising
Outside funds may be necessary to complete the construction, however. The old jail is a six-story building that still has many of the hardened security features necessary for a detention facility. Removing those furnishings will be an expensive endeavor, commissioners predicted.
“You’re not building that place out with $13 million, not in a heartbeat,” said Commissioner George Kruse, who suggested partnering with outside organizations to raise money.
The plan is still in the very early stages. Hopes said he’s confident that raising money won’t be a huge hurdle. County leaders have already been in contact with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to discuss funding opportunities.
“This is by far the largest project focusing on homeless veterans in the United States,” Hopes said. “We believe we’ll have numerous sources of funds from a number of entities.”
Opening a first-of-its-kind support center could attract the fundraising necessary to get the project across the finish line, especially if the county aims to come up with a blueprint that other communities can follow, Bellamy said.
“I’m excited about being a national leader with this effort,” he explained. “We want to be a trailblazer and make sure it’s a model that can go across the country.”
County looks for other transitional housing sites
With veterans as the focus for the old jail building, county leaders say they’re also working to provide temporary housing for the general homeless population. Some of the government’s surplus property would be ideal for small units that give people an opportunity to get back on their feet, Commissioner Carol Whitmore suggested.
Paired with “heavy case management,” Whitmore believes a collection of 120-square-foot tiny homes could make all the difference in the world. Similar to the facility for veterans, Manatee County would keep tabs on program participants and connect them with the resources they need.
“I believe that everybody can be productive citizens. You just have to help them,” said Whitmore, who dealt with homelessness as a teenager. “I really believe this community is going to figure out a way to make this work. We can do some positive things.”
Manatee County’s partnership with organizations like Turning Points will be crucial, but new affordable housing options in the area will also be necessary to end the cycle of homelessness.
“We need to ensure that there’s long-term affordable housing, otherwise these people will exit and head back into homelessness or scrambling for somewhere inexpensive,” Cramer said.
How will Manatee County choose veteran services?
Before the plan gets too far along, Commissioner Misty Servia urged her fellow board members to put together a report on what services may need to be provided at the center. After meeting with various homeless outreach organizations, she said she realized that part of the problem is many services go unused.
“We have services that aren’t being utilized. They just aren’t,” said Servia, who has been closely involved in the county’s homeless outreach programs.
Servia recently toured several homeless outreach facilities in Pinellas County to learn more about what other local government officials are doing to address the problem. She said Manatee’s $15 million effort might be taking off too fast.
“We’ve got to understand the problem before we start offering solutions. We need a report that details the facilities we have to help the homeless and what the gaps are,” Servia explained.
A team of community leaders and stakeholders will be tasked with brainstorming which services the facility should provide. County commissioners will also meet with the Bradenton City Council to discuss the implications of opening the facility downtown and possible partnerships between the two municipalities.
A construction timeline has not been finalized, but Hopes expects to have the center open by 2024.
