During the Sulzbacher Center’s September 2015 Transformations gala, public support was announced for the collaborative plans to build an additional center, the Sulzbacher Village, specifically to help women and children overcome homelessness and get back on their feet. One year later, when Sulzbacher celebrated new successes at Transformations 2016, the nonprofit also announced its gratitude for the tremendous outpouring of help toward reaching the capital campaign goal of $20.5 million and making the new village a reality.
“The need to have affordable housing built for homeless women and their families is based on the fact that they are the fastest growing and most critical demographic in the homeless population today,” said Cindy Funkhouser, Sulzbacher president and CEO, who is also overseeing this important community project.
In just one year’s time the capital campaign has raised most of its goal with only $750,000 left in donations needed to finalize the project. Funds raised include $9.2 million from low income housing tax credits from an investor; 4.5 million from the state of Florida; and 5.5 million from private donations.
According to Funkhouser, when the tax credits close in December 2016, they plan to follow-up with a groundbreaking that same month for Sulzbacher Village, an 85,000-square-foot campus to be built at 44th and Pearl Streets in Gateway. The land has been leased to the nonprofit by a Methodist church for 65 years at $1 per year. The village will include 80 studio, one- and two-bedroom permanent-housing units to single women, female veterans and single- and two-parent families, to accommodate approximately 310 people. An additional 45 units will also be built to provide short-term emergency housing and medical respite. The village will also supply a pediatric clinic with primary, dental and optical care, daycare center and other programming like job training and life skills to help restore hope and self-sufficiency.
To help make Sulzbacher Village a reality, go to www.sulzbachercenter.org/sulzbachervillage and click on the blue “Donate Now” button.
