MEDIA CONTACT
Camille Cline, Chief Advancement Officer
157 South Havana Road; Venice, FL 34292
ccline@LovelandCenter.org
Office: 941.493.0016 x307; Mobile: 941-539-8872
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOVELAND CENTER RECEIVES $15,000,000 FROM FLORIDA
Venice, FL (June 16, 2023)— Loveland Center received the $15,000,000 Senator Nancy C. Detert Home of Your Own Program appropriation, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis yesterday. The $24,350,000 Home of Your Own Program aims to provide affordable housing to anyone with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD), or who is 65 or older and lives at 65 percent or less of the Area Median Income for Sarasota County.
Three three-story Apartments comprised of 84 one- and two-bedroom units will break ground on 7.5 acres adjacent to Loveland Center’s campus at 157 South Havana Road, off East Venice Avenue in sunny, historic Venice, Florida. Loveland plans to build an additional 38 two- and three-bedroom Villas next to the Apartments. Stephen and Redenta Picazio have pledged an additional $1,000,000 to name one of the three Apartments.
Our community members with I/DD will benefit from the Apartments’ proximity to The Clinic at Loveland Center, recreational activities, a walking trail, and many other amenities planned for the new community. Sen. Nancy Detert positioned Loveland well to receive the support of Sarasota County with a $5,000,000 grant from the Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners. She also facilitated State Legislative sponsorships and helped Loveland complete its Appropriations Requests to the State Senate and House, which passed earlier in May.
“Loveland is incredibly grateful to Senator Detert. I’m only sorry that she cannot be with us right now to celebrate all that she has accomplished for Loveland and our entire community for so many decades. Her persistence, passion, and good counsel gave my staff and me the direction to carry this project through,” said President & CEO Patrick Guerin. “Sen. Jim Boyd and Rep. James Buchanan, our bill sponsors, along with Senate President Passidomo, and Senators Gruters and Broxson were instrumental in making this project a reality.”
“I’m also grateful to our Board Chair, Laurie Huebner, and the entire Loveland board, our amazing, hard-working staff and volunteers, and especially our families. We could not do what we do without the relationships we have with our participants and their parents and caregivers.”
In 2019, Loveland Center’s Board of Directors and Guerin established a strategic initiative for affordable housing as a top need for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In February 2020, Loveland Center acquired land adjacent to the Loveland Venice campus with future hopes of its use for affordable housing and appointed a Building Committee, led by Board member Bob Lewandowski. Loveland Center then hired Fleischman Garcia Kozlowski Architecture, A&M Engineering, and Halfacre Construction. The Boone Law Firm has generously given its time and expertise to guide Loveland through the entire process.
To learn more about Loveland Center’s naming opportunities for the Home of Your Own Program, contact Camille Cline, Chief Advancement Officer, at ccline@lovelandcenter.org or visit www.LovelandCenter.org.
ABOUT LOVELAND CENTER
Established in 1962, Loveland Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) live their lives to the fullest. Loveland serves more than 450 individuals across Sarasota, Charlotte, and Manatee Counties through programs that equip individuals with skills that will improve daily lives, build self-confidence, and develop a greater sense of independence. Loveland is committed to supporting all people, regardless of their ability, to be seen as equals at home and in their community. ###
