- Alachua County opened 67 permanent supportive and rapid rehousing units after renovating two motels purchased for $4.1 million.
- The complex includes 31 studios for permanent supportive housing and 36 one-bedroom units for rapid rehousing with 24/7 staffing and case management.
- Tenants pay 30% of their income for rent and receive support services without requirements to stop drug use or take medication.
Alachua County cut the ribbon Tuesday on 67 permanent supportive and rapid rehousing units at East Tumblin Creek and Forest Edge off US 441 south of Gainesville.
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) bought the two former motels in 2023 and 2021 for $4.1 million before undergoing renovations. The county hopes the new units begin to fill a missing piece in the housing problem.
With GRACE Marketplace, Keys to Home and the city of Gainesville working on shelter beds, along with county funds, Alachua County began focusing on permanent supportive housing.
Chair Ken Cornell said at the opening that when citizens voted for the infrastructure surtax, they wanted more than parks and roads. He said Alachua County is a community that votes to provide funds that take care of the most vulnerable.
“Sixty-seven homes—not shelters, not transitional beds—homes. Places where our neighbors can close the door, feel safe and begin to rebuild their lives. This is adaptive reuse at its most meaningful state,” Cornell said.
The county earned grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), along with U.S. Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds.
County case managers will each work with around 15 tenants, and Alachua County Housing Authority will serve as the landlord. The complex is split between 31 studios for permanent supportive housing and 36 one-bedroom units for rapid rehousing.
The complex has meeting space, a laundry room and a resource center with computers, sanitation and medical supplies. It’ll be staffed 24/7.
Amanda Nazaro, executive director of Alachua County Housing Authority, said the units are an investment in people.
“This collaboration represents a strategic and innovative approach to expanding access to affordable housing in Alachua County,” Nazaro said. “In our role as property manager, the housing authority is committed to maintaining high-quality living environments, providing responsive and reliable management and fostering a supportive community driven in dignity and respect for all residents.”
Claudia Tuck, director of Alachua County’s Community Support Services, said residents must obey the lease and agree to case management to live there. That’s it.
The lease stipulates 30% of a person’s income for rent. And if a person is unemployed, then 30% of zero is zero, Tuck told the event attendees.
“We don’t say you have to stop using drugs; we don’t say you have to take your medication,” Tuck said. “Housing first, as the commissioner said, it’s put the housing in place and then wrap the supports around that individual.”
Tuck said the individuals living there have often hit rock bottom or been homeless for more than 10 years. She said for some, the idea of sleeping indoors could be scary, with some tenants starting on the front porch before slowly moving inside.
The first tenants will move in next week, and case managers said it’ll be pretty much booked from the start.
The case managers are there to assist tenants and connect them with resources, from county programs to community ones on drug addiction, mental health counseling, job training and more.
Tenants get referred through the Keys to Home Continuum of Care from homeless individuals who are screened by outreach teams. Each referred resident could stay at the units for years, and each resident will be different, staff said.
Alachua County also owns land to the east and north of the site, with potential future plans for more housing.
“This is what local government looks like when it works,” Cornell said. “To the residents who will live at Forest Edge and East Tumblin Creek, we built this for you. You Deserve stability, you deserve dignity, and you deserve a place to truly call your home.”
Wonderful news. Genius.
Hope is not dope.
Skills make income
First a roof to call home 🏡🏠
Alachua county and city 🏙️🌆
Thank you 👍🙏
It’s up to people to be human…..
They say government doesn’t do anything 😞
In this case Alachua and Gainesville Florida
Did. Congratulations 👏🙏🧑🚀👏🙏👩🦰
Let’s see how fast these places are trashed.
This is 100% unacceptable. If the city is going to put this type of money into “helping” the community then rules and expectations should be set. The city is putting neighborhoods near these hotels in danger to many things. If someone is allowed to live there they need to be off of drugs, they need to get /have a job, they need to show the are going to become a respectable person to be apart of a community and then they can transition out to new place to live. Keep giving stuff free out and see what will happen to the neighborhood, and if there are schools near by, well you better watch your kids from the danger this can bring around and the temptations. This city and the people that run it are just a joke and disappointment. The probably won’t make sure their are not any illegals there either, this town is such a disgrace to all the residents that have lived here and worked hard to have a safe place to live and raise families.
Great news! Thanks to all involved.
Aren’t we taxpayers proud to support another Ghetto!
Think of it as giving back!
This is good start.
I think that they should have to go through rehab for drugs and alcohol before living there. Otherwise these places are just going to be used for parties and prostitution. Throwing pearls after swine in my opinion. Provide detox and rehab and job training. Help people learn to to stand on their own two feet instead of constantly relying on Boss Gov’t. to take care of them.
Just how much grant money did Alachua County receive for this project? Also, does panhandling count as a job? How much is the maintenance, i.e., electricity, water, going to cost taxpayers? These rooms are not going to solve anything.
Hope they are going to fund GPD because they are going to at this place 24/7! No job no problem come on over for a free place to live and feel free to do all the drugs you like as well! This place is going to be a nightmare. Thanks Gainesville for wasting more of my tax dollars
The concept is good. The actual product is questionable. $5M on one and $4.1 mil on the other? Lets do the math together. I’ve seen mixed reports on the actual amounts but those are the most common numbers. 67 rooms with bathroom and kitchenette. $9,100,000 divided by 67 is $135,820.90 with government regulated rounding. I know about permit costs and labor fees… but holy crap is that expensive for a hotel room renovation! If one room is generously 400 sq ft of space, that is a cost to renovate at $339.55/ sq. ft. (Drury Inn 2 room suites are 400 sq ft.)
The city… paid… that much? That’s the cost to build a new 2 bedroom cabin, with full size kitchen and bathroom. Do government officials not do any research on costs? Could have spent half that. And, it took 3 years?
Where is our private sector investigator on this? This is absolutely obviously not ok. Not to mention future inflated “costs of upkeep” that will most definitely come next.
Total Estimated Costs by Property Class (67 Rooms)
Economy ($8k-$15k/room): ~$536,000 – $1,005,000.
Midscale ($20k-$40k/room): ~$1,340,000 – $2,680,000.
Upscale ($50k-$90k/room): ~$3,350,000 – $6,030,000.
These price estimates are nowhere near the cost taxpayers are being told was paid.
I don’t mind the intent behind the actions. I think the follow through is shaky, at best. I do mind being told an outrageous cost for something that literally could have cost 20% of that. Even if you add $2m for buying them, which is also outrageously overpriced, and use the highest estimate the total costs are still less than our $9.1 million taxpayer money spent by $100 grand. Government cost inflation? Government dinner party for 3-5 years to renovate? Bought in 2021 and 2023? right?
Tell me I’m wrong, please. Tell me there’s some reasonable explanation for this price tag. Please.
“We don’t say you have to stop using drugs”…well that’s the dumbest comment I’ve heard today. Whoever makes these crazy stupid decisions on behalf of the Alachua county taxpayers needs to be fired today.