Sarasota County

The Salvation Army’s Pathway of Hope initiative shifts from treating the symptoms of poverty to breaking the cycle of inter-generational poverty and preventing the epidemic in future generations. Through Pathway of Hope, we are helping families overcome barriers like unemployment, unstable housing and lack of education. Working together with parents, we help them get training, further their education, obtain employment, budget their money and secure stable housing. Once those barriers have been overcome, we can break the cycle of crisis and vulnerability and lead families instead down a path toward increased stability and ultimately, self-sufficiency.

Pathway of Hope uses a “two generation” solution because children that are raised in poverty affected families perpetuate the cycle of poverty. That is why The Salvation Army partners with parents who are dedicated to improving their current life situation as well as increasing future prospects for their children. Throughout the program, Pathway of Hope families have a strong support network that helps them recreate the infrastructure of their lives.

The Salvation Army Family Resident Services enables homeless families with children to achieve self-sufficiency and housing permanency. The Family Resident Services (FRS) provides 12 furnished apartments for low cost housing; it is located on the Sarasota Center of Hope campus at 1400 Tenth Street.   Families are required to pay no more than 30% of their income for the apartment; water, electric and laundry are offered free of charge.

It is a safe place to rebuild their lives by providing housing services, financial counseling and planning, family case management, continuing life skills education and a strong system of support services.  Participants have the opportunity to pay off evictions, legal fees and other debts while increasing life and budgeting skills, education, employability and family income.

Families build community through Sustainability Groups and Pathway of Hope night at the Sarasota Center for Worship and Service, located at 1701 S. Tuttle Avenue.  Families eat dinner together with other families.  Children play together while parents share the joys and struggles of the day.  After dinner, Pre-K children are connected with Children First workers who actively educate children through play and social interaction.  Their older siblings are connected through character building programming where they earn badges for skill and accomplishments.

Pathway of Hope addresses family relations while working to create a family network of support. This includes acknowledging negative behaviors, showing commitment to change, and learning to communicate effectively. Through the skills and changes made during this program….participants are no longer planning day to day and living on the edge. They can now plan for continued success and a brighter future for their family.

Any family interested in accessing services may call the Sarasota Center of Hope (941) 954-4673, extension 3115 to complete an application.

Program sponsors include Sarasota County Government, the State of Florida, Department of Economic Opportunity, United Way Suncoast and the generous Salvation Army donors.

The Salvation Army’s Life Recovery programs provides individualized, life-saving services to adult women and men in Sarasota County who are homeless, addicted to drugs or alcohol, or are incarcerated.  Provided at no cost to the individual, these programs not only help improve the lives of the clients who gain sobriety and stability, it betters their family relationship as well as the entire community.  It helps create stable citizens who contribute to the overall quality of life in Sarasota County.

Life Recovery is comprised of three unique programs:

• Community Recovery Program (CRP) – Center of Hope
• Voluntary Interim Placement – Enhanced Recovery (VIP-ER) Program – Center of Hope
• Addiction Recovery Program (“Jail Pods”) - Sarasota County Jail

If you have a heart for those struggling with addictions and would like to volunteer in one of these programs, call the Sarasota Center of Hope (941) 954-4673, extension 1306 for an application or additional information.

Reflecting the quality of community in the lives of others increases the quality of life for all.

The Quality of Life by Choice model, or “QLife” represents a pivotal point in 2014 when The Salvation Army shifted the focus of our services away from reactive emergency services and towards proactive housing-focused services. We adopted a Housing First approach which means we believe that housing is the cure to homelessness.  Today, “QLife” continues to represent our commitment to housing-focused services.

As the only 24-hour emergency shelter for adults 18 and older in Sarasota County, our QLife Shelter is the hub of homeless services.  We take part in the Oneby1 coordinated entry system – a process for ensuring all people experiencing a housing crisis have fair and equal access to housing opportunities and services based on strengths and needs.  We serve as an Access Point where someone experiencing homelessness can be quickly identified and assessed for services.

The heart of The Salvation Army’s outreach in Sarasota County is the Corps Community Centers.

From each center, a wide range of activities take place.  Each of these activities has been successful in building relationships and self-esteem, encouraging the youth, adults and seniors and promoting a better sense of community.   Activities may include:

• Youth programs offered for children ages through teenager
• Community fellowship groups
• Senior programs
• Summer camping programs
• Group worship meetings
• After school program