Second Heart Homes

January 13, 2026

Renovating Essential Spaces at Second Heart Homes – Scene Sarasota

December 29, 2025

December 29, 2025 | Sarasota

At Second Heart Homes, stability is shaped not only by housing and support services, but by the everyday spaces that allow people to care for themselves with safety and dignity. With support from an $84,895 capital grant from the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, the organization will begin renovating four bathrooms across two properties this winter—work that improves daily life for residents who have experienced homelessness and live with mental illness, while strengthening the long-term sustainability of the homes.

The renovations address aging infrastructure and bathroom layouts that no longer meet residents’ physical and accessibility needs. Construction will begin in January 2026 and will be completed in phases to ensure residents can remain safely housed throughout the work. The renovation work will be carried out in partnership with Kurtz Design Build, a firm whose approach aligns with Second Heart Homes’ focus on quality, care, and accountability.

“For people who have experienced homelessness, access to a safe and functional bathroom is foundational to health, dignity, and daily independence,” says Megan Howell, executive director and founder of Second Heart Homes.

Howell explains that the renovations will allow residents to care for themselves with greater ease—supporting physical wellbeing while reinforcing routines essential to recovery and confidence. In supportive housing, these seemingly ordinary spaces play an outsized role in restoring privacy, stability, and a sense of control over daily life.

“This project focuses on one of the most basic necessities in our homes, but its impact is far-reaching,” Howell adds. “Many of our residents spent years without reliable access to a functional toilet or a hot shower. Improving these spaces reinforces that they are valued and that their comfort, safety, and dignity matter.”

She notes that making these kinds of essential, behind-the-scenes improvements depends on partners who understand how stability is built over time.

“Support from the Selby Foundation reflects a deep understanding of what stability truly requires,” Howell says. “Their investment recognizes that lasting change happens not only through services, but through thoughtful care of the places people call home. We are profoundly grateful for their partnership and belief in this work.”

Second Heart Homes provides permanent supportive housing paired with individualized case management for single adults who have experienced homelessness and live with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. The organization currently owns 11 homes serving 68 adults in Sarasota and Manatee counties, with 2 new homes on the way.

For more information about Second Heart Homes and its supportive housing, visit SecondHeartHomes.org.