A Winter Haven nonprofit is seeking city funds to build 13 apartment units it says will help reduce and prevent homelessness among the area’s students.
Brad Beatty, executive director of Heart for Winter Haven, made a request for $350,000 from Winter Haven officials to help fund an “attainable” housing complex for families with school-aged children who are homeless or at-risk. Beatty estimated it could provide stable housing for more than 30 local children.
Heart for Winter Haven has focused on 527 children experiencing homelessness in Winter Haven’s public schools. Its goal is ending childhood homelessness in Winter Haven by 2030, and acquiring additional housing is one step in that direction.
“Help us continue to grow in our capacity,” he asked city commissioners on Aug. 10. “This doesn’t require additional money from the housing vouchers. This allows us to have that stable housing and see those families have a chance to grow.”
The nonprofit has proposed the 7th St SW Townhome Project, which aims to build 13 townhouse units at 1403 7th St. SW. Beatty said his organization currently has the property under contract with a land aquistion cost of $775,000.
The vision is to build two- and three-bedroom units averaging 1,398-square-feet per unit, Beatty said. The 13 townhomes would be below-market rental housing for homeless families with children and those who are at-risk of becoming homeless. The project’s total cost is estimated at more than $2.7 million.
“This would really be an ideal situation to move those 13 families in and have this beautiful spot for them as well,” Beatty said.
The proposed site is within walking distance of the city-owned R.H. Malcom Park, providing the children with a place to play.
Commissioner Chad Davis asked how the townhomes would be used.
Heart for Winter Haven would lease the units under a designed long-term transition program, Beatty said. The project is targeted for families making 120% of the area’s average median income, or about $100,680 for a family of four, according to U.S. Housing and Urban Development’s 2026 Income Limits for the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area. Beatty said most of the families earn less.
The goal is to allow families two 12-month periods to grow and stabilize by utilizing Heart for Winter Haven’s programs, which may include financial literacy or training for job skills. Beatty said the timeframe can be extended if the family shows it is making progress toward financial benchmarks.
“As long as they are doing their part, we make sure they can leave with a relatively full bank account and enough margin to move, not feel the hit and have the savings they need,” Beatty said.
Polk County has already approved a $350,000 grant toward the project, Beatty said, and now the nonprofit is looking to the city to match. More than $2.3 million has been raised through grants and private donors by the nonprofit.
If the funds are approved, Beatty said he’s hopeful Heart for Winter Haven could break ground on construction of one four-unit complex building before the end of the year.
This year, Beatty said he anticipates another 15 families will be helped before the end of the fiscal year, bringing the total to 70 for 2025-26.
“It’ll be right at 70 families this year, which is the most we’ve ever served,” he said. “Which gives us both pride in our ability to serve and concern that the need continues to grow despite the help. This year has been particularly stressful on our families.”
Mayor Brian Yates asked whether the nonprofit had numbers on how many families were stabilized and stayed within the Winter Haven community.
“It’s great we can get them in the door and help them, but then what happens after that?” the mayor asked. “It goes a long way to ensure the funds are going to appropriate places and the funds provide necessary help. Not potentially a stepping stone, while good to get them off the streets and into a house situation, are they staying here in Winter Haven? Are they impacting the community for the good? These are public tax dollars going to these families.” Heart for Winter Haven was tracking those numbers, Beatty said, but there has been some attrition as people move for a variety of reasons.
Yates asked city staff to draft a resolution that would likely be voted on at the next City Commission meeting. It is scheduled for Aug. 24. He’s asked for a potential clawback included in a developer agreement in case something happens that the project doesn’t come to fruition, the city can get their funds back.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Winter Haven nonprofit seeks $350,000 from city to build 13 apartments
Reporting by Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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By Sara-Megan Walsh, Lakeland Ledger | USA TODAY Network
