About Us
Sarasota Housing Authority (SHA) is committed to providing quality affordable housing to enhance the lives of our residents and promote their independence. Our professional team members provide housing assistance to over 2,400 low-income families in Sarasota, and have completed nine redevelopment projects. In addition to affordable housing, SHA endeavors to help our families access appropriate services to improve their lives and are an award-winning industry leader in early childhood programming.s
Our Mission
Sarasota Housing Authority (SHA) is committed to providing quality affordable housing to enhance the lives of our residents and promote their independence.
Core Values
- We value the human dignity of each person
- We value diversity
- We value honesty
- We value curiosity
- We value healthy stewardship
Historical Highlights
- SHA was formed in 1938, and was only the eighth housing authority formed in FL.
- In 2005, SHA was placed into federal receivership, after HUD found that SHA was troubled in several aspects, including financial, physical condition, and management.
- In 2008, SHA was turned back over to local governance/locally-appointed board, marking one of the fastest and most successful HUD receiverships in history.
- In 2009, Janie’s Garden Phase I was completed, providing 86 new apartments where Janie Poe once stood, and marked Sarasota’s first mixed-income rental development.
- In 2010, Sarasota County turned its 500+ voucher program over to SHA.
- In 2011, SHA completed construction of Janie’s Garden Phase II, adding another 68 mixed-income apartments, as well as 10,500 square feet of ground floor retail along Dr. MLK Jr. Way.
- In 2012, SHA’s 501c3 affiliate, the Sarasota Housing Funding Corp (SHFC), completed it’s first multifamily acquisition/rehab of a 15-unit complex at 251 N. Tuttle Avenue, which houses extremely low, very low and low income families.
- In early 2013, SHFC also opened a brand new 28-unit brownstone style townhome development named King Stone on Dr. MLK Jr Way at Maple, which also houses extremely low, very low and low income families.
- SHFC now owns 15 single family homes throughout Sarasota which are all leased to very low income families.
- In 2013, SHA won the Most Outstanding Agency in Florida as voted on by its peers from the Florida Association of Housing & Redevelopment Officials.
- In 2016, Phase 3 of Janie’s Garden, with its 72 apartments, is completed and occupied, completing the three-phase development of the 226- unit Janie’s Garden.
- In 2022, Amaryllis Park Place, a beautiful, new 84-unit elderly community, opens marking SHA’s first elderly development in 45 years.
- Later in 2022, Lofts on Lemon, a striking 5-story, 128-unit development in the Rosemary District, featuring 76 affordable and 52 attainable workforce units, opens.
- In the early summer of 2024, Cypress Square, a new 84-unit affordable family development, was completed and leased up.
- Today, SHA and SHFC provide housing to over 2,400 families and are constantly working to develop more affordable housing in Sarasota.
- SHA is also a HUD High Performer.
Policies
- ACOP For help downloading, please call 941-361-6210 x221
- HCV Admin Plan For help downloading, please call 941-361-6210 x221
- Annual Plan 2024 For help downloading, please call 941-361-6210 x221
- Annual Plan 2024 - Significant Amendment - Draft For help downloading, please call 941-361-6210 x221
Board of Commissioners
SHA is governed by a seven-member Board of Commissioners who were nominated by various Mayors and confirmed by the Sarasota City Commission.
Jack Meredith
Chair
Jack Meredith has over 35 years’ experience in architecture and construction and has a strong passion for order and supporting the human experience in his work. His interest in architecture began in the mid-1980s when he was a young carpenter designing, building, and constructing residential and commercial projects as a licensed contractor. After working as a contractor, he decided to pursue a career in architecture and pursued his architecture degree at Boston Architectural Center (BAC). The studios at BAC challenge normative architectural practices and materials, encouraging the use of innovation with restraint. This approach profoundly influenced his work both during college, and throughout his career. Jack currently serves as Director of Harvard Jolly Architecture’s Sarasota office where he works full time having overall accountability for the Harvard Jolly team by providing essential leadership.
In addition to his professional and educational experience Jack is dedicated to urban renewal and minimizing the impact of gentrification throughout urban communities. He’s committed in developing strategies to maintain the Sarasota Housing authorities’ mission to “providing quality affordable housing to enhance the lives of residents and promoting their independence.”
When Jack is not working or volunteering, he enjoys spending time with his family: he is blissfully married to Terri and has four children.
Ernestine Taylor
Vice Chair
Ernestine Taylor is an Air Force Veteran who became homeless and received a Section 8 Voucher. Once stably housed, she and her daughter enrolled in and completed the Family Self Sufficient program. This program helped them both complete degree programs and increase earned income, which propelled them toward economic independence and housing self-sufficiency, culminating in her graduating off of voucher assistance. Now another family in need is being housed with Ms. Taylor’s former voucher. Ms. Taylor has served as volunteer for AmeriCorps Vista with Legal Aid of Manasota and Senior Friendship Center. She was also a Guardian ad Litem for the Twelfth Circuit. Ms. Taylor has over 14 years employment experience with various non-profit organizations in Sarasota County dedicated to serving family, children and seniors. Ms. Taylor is honored for the opportunity to serve on a Board that seeks to help families flourish and live affordably in our community. She supports and encourages residents of public housing and Section 8 to increase their earned income and progress toward economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.
John Colón
John A. Colón is the Managing Partner of Sanderling Partners. He has spent over 30 years managing investments for his clients and has been duly recognized by several prominent firms. Mr. Colón most recently served as a Senior Vice President-Investments at Wells Fargo Advisors in downtown Sarasota. Prior to joining Wells Fargo Advisors, Mr. Colón spent more than a decade at Morgan Stanley in New York. While there he attained the rank of First Vice President, and was tapped to open the Locust Valley, NY office of the firm which he managed for several years.
Outside of the office, Mr. Colón has been active in his community both locally and at the state level. He has served as a Gubernatorial appointee on the State Board of Education, and the Manatee County Schoolboard. Mr. Colón has also been a Commissioner of the Sarasota Housing Authority since 2005 and has served as its chairman 4 times over the years. He currently serves on the Board of Sarasota Teen Court, Manatee Tiger Bay and the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling Board of Directors.
G. Duane Finger
Gerald Duane Finger is retired from Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority where he served 31 years as Planning and Development Manager, Relocation Assistant, Director of Redevelopment and HOPE VI Coordinator. Duane was first appointed to the SHA Board of Commissioners in November 2004, and reappointed in April 2005, and served as Chairman. Duane was reappointed to the new, post-HUD receivership Commission in July 2008 and served as Chairman from 2008-2010, and also served as Chairman of Development Committee from 2010-2011. Currently, Duane serves on the Development Committee.
Carolyn Mason
(Picture and Bio Coming Soon)
Turquoise Dillard
(Bio Coming Soon)
David Morgan
(Bio Coming Soon)Administration
(941) 361-6210, ext. 224
wrussell@sarasotahousing.org
(941) 361-6210, ext. 261
(941) 361-6210, ext. 240
(941) 361-6210, ext. 252
(941) 361-6210, ext. 268
(941) 361-6210 ext. 228
(941) 361-6210, ext. 221
(941) 361-6210, ext. 229
(941) 361-6210, ext. 226
Upcoming Board and Board Committee Meetings
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Tuesday, July 16, 2024, 4:30 p.m. - Development Committee Meeting, 1300 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota(Cancelled)
- Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 4:30 p.m. - SHA Annual Board Meeting, Board Room, 1300 Blvd of the Arts, Sarasota (Revised/Rescheduled from 7/10/24)
Board Meeting Information and Minutes
The Sarasota Housing Authority (SHA) typically holds regular board meetings on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 4:30 PM in our board room located on the ground floor at 1300 Blvd. of the Arts (Sixth Street). The public is welcome to attend SHA Board Meetings.