$15,000 provided by Community Foundation of Sarasota County
Second Heart Homes has received a $15,000 Capacity Building Grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to strengthen the organization’s ability to track and evaluate the progress of residents who have experienced homelessness and live with mental illness, the nonprofit has announced.
“The grant will fund new case management software, replacing much of the manual documentation and data collection Second Heart Homes currently relies on,” a news release explains. “The new system will allow staff to more efficiently track residents’ housing stability, participation in case management and progress toward individualized goals,” the release points out.
“A beautiful, healthy home is important, but it’s only part of what it takes to help someone build a stable life,” said Megan Howell, executive director and founder of Second Heart Homes, in the release. “Behind every resident is a team that needs to know what’s working, where someone may be struggling and when additional support is needed,” Howell continued. “Having that information in one place will help us see the bigger picture and make better decisions for each person we serve. We’re grateful to the Community Foundation for recognizing that investing in the systems behind the work ultimately strengthens the work itself,” she added.
The software also will help Second Heart Homes “monitor residents’ engagement with therapy, primary care and other health services; health insurance coverage; and follow-through on referrals. Staff will be able to track employment and income, progress toward sobriety, significant milestones and incidents that may affect a resident’s path toward long-term stability,” the release notes.
“Beyond individual case management,” it continues, “the system will allow Second Heart Homes to analyze outcomes across its entire program, helping the organization identify broader patterns and determine where resources and support are most effective.”
The release explains, “Second Heart Homes provides permanent supportive housing paired with individualized case management for adults who have experienced homelessness and live with mental illness and/or substance use disorders.” The organization owns 14 homes serving 86 adults in Sarasota and Manatee counties, with additional homes on the way, the release adds.
For more information about Second Heart Homes and its supportive housing, visit SecondHeartHomes.org.