Nonprofit that addresses homelessness aims for three new houses every year

Megan Howell was a college student working as a waitress at Sarasota’s Patrick’s 1481 when she met and helped a homeless man off the street. Before then, she thought she would be a therapist, but the experience changed her mind.

That’s when Second Heart Homes began.

The organization was founded in 2019, with Howell as its executive director. Second Heart Homes now serves 86 residents and manages 14 homes to help give people experiencing homelessness a new beginning.

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“Being able to have other people have purpose through service is the greatest part of it, because I could have never predicted any of this,” Howell said. “Personally, I have found a lot of growth, purpose, love and belonging. We’ve created a community.”

The organization works to serve single, mentally ill, homeless adults within the Sarasota and Manatee areas. The counties, combined, had an estimated homeless population of 965 in 2025, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families.

Second Heart Homes program provides permanent housing, as well as giving 365-day support and mentorship while treating its residents with dignity and love.

“Whatever it is, we work with them every single day to work towards those goals,” said Chief Operating Officer Pearl DeBrular. “Recovery, mental health, stability, which separates us from a lot of different programs around town. Because we’re not just, ‘Here’s a house; let me get you off the street; let me get you a bed.’ And that’s it. Even three months in, they’re in a much different place than when they first came in.”

The organization is looking to expand, with the goal of adding three homes every year to help more people. Its next home was already funded as a gift from the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.

Second Heart took on new staff to help facilitate its expansion: a new annual fund and growth manager, two property management personnel, a new case management team member and five board members.

With a new team in place, Howell and the rest of the staff can begin devising and strategizing a strategic plan for growth. The nonprofit doesn’t accept government funding, so the greatest need is unrestricted funds for things like salaries, housing, furniture, supplies and storm disaster relief, as well as small things to brighten residents’ lives, like Christmas gifts.

“If somebody needs a plane ticket to go see their father and reunite with (them), we can do that,” Howell said. “We make sure every single resident gets a cake on their birthday. So by having funding, we can make sure we’re paying for (it), whether it’s buying a new home or it’s hiring the team.” 

Howell mentions they are working to raise $2.2 million. They recently received a $400,000 donation, and they’re eager to secure a match.

Annual Fund and Growth Manager Brianne Schuler said one of her main goals within this expansion is to gain more corporate growth for funding, as well as to get Second Heart Homes’ mission out to donors and those in need of help.

The strategic plan doesn’t only concern unrestricted funds though: It also includes developing a plan to grow comfortably and consistently.

This is were the board comes in.

Most of the board members have volunteered with Second Heart Homes or worked with other nonprofits in aid of homelessness or other causes. The board and staff work closely with eight committees with various different purposes including finance, strategy and governance. 

“The board now has the committees, which are the members of course, but it all kind of goes up,” said Paul Zak, who recently joined the board with a background in homelessness nonprofits, engineering and finance. “Things can happen quicker, with better discussions, more insight and deeper investigations.” 

Zak and fellow board member Matthew Straeb see this early expansion as pivotal to Second Heart Homes’ growth because they see the opportunity to do more. 

“We’re not going to just expand to expand,” said Straeb, who works with other nonprofits such as Heart Gallery of America and Sarasota. “One of the things that we’re trying to do here is to capture all of our processes, document all of our processes so that we can scale to some other communities that need this type of program.” 

The organization took its most recent step earlier this month when its 14th home opened. Howell and three residents stepped inside and sat down at the dining room to write welcome cards to new residents. 

Howell urged them to think about what they felt like when they first arrived, with some hesitating before putting pen to paper. They then each made a bed, making sure the corners were tucked in tight, perfect for the new residents’ first night home. 

Visit SecondHeartHomes.org for volunteer and donation information.