Under One Roof: New Shelter Facility Opens in Bradenton

BRADENTON — Manatee County officials, along with community partners and members of the public, came together on Wednesday to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of a new community facility that will provide much-needed assistance to area women in crisis.

Under One Roof Gateway South is a shelter and recovery center that will provide safe housing, critical supportive services, and a healing environment for women overcoming addiction, homelessness, and trauma.

Housed in a reimaged and repurposed former Manatee County Sheriff’s substation, the facility is located at 407 57th Avenue East in Bradenton.

Before leading the ceremony’s opening Pledge of Allegiance, Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells thanked county commissioners and “everyone that was involved” in the project.

“To have a vision, to be able to see that vision come true, and to know that we’re going to be helping all the citizens of Manatee County,” said Sheriff Wells. “This is just the beginning.” 



Under One Roof Gateway South is outfitted to serve up to 40 women in need of housing at a time. The program is intended to go beyond merely providing its temporary residents with a place to eat, sleep, and shower, but also to assist in guiding the women toward support services that will help them establish lasting stability and independence.

In addition to assisting women in need, the facility features 3,000 square feet of administration space to house wrap-around services that will support anyone in the community in need of help identifying resources and programs to address their struggles with homelessness, substance abuse, or mental health challenges.

The project was championed by Manatee County District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard, who has credited her time working with children and families as an attorney in the local child welfare system for opening her eyes to the significant need for more resources to help women and families get their lives back on track.

Speaking to attendees gathered outside the new facility for the ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, Ballard referred to the project, which had been two years in the making, as “a labor of love.”

“I truly believe I was elected to this position to make a difference on these issues,” she said before reading from a long list of community partners, service providers, county employees, and other local officials, who shared in the work of bringing the facility to fruition.

The Helping Up Mission, a non-denominational, faith-based 501(c)(3) organization that assists those struggling with substance abuse and/or homelessness, is partnering with the county to run the facility.

The project was funded in part by opioid settlement dollars awarded to Manatee County and by HUD’s HOME-ARP program. Philanthropic support from various organizations, combined with county contributions, has also aided the project.

A week ahead of the ribbon-cutting, the Mosaic Company announced that it would contribute $350,000 to refurbish the kitchen at Under One Roof, a portion of the project that Ballard noted had remained unfunded until the company stepped forward.

“This extraordinary investment ensures that Under One Roof will not only provide shelter and recovery services but also the nourishment and dignity that come from sharing a meal in a space designed with care,” Ballard said in a county press release.

Leaders say the gift underscores the power of public–private partnerships in addressing homelessness, addiction, and trauma in Manatee County.

"MCF is proud to be part of this effort, which will create lasting impact for vulnerable women in our community," said Veronica Thames, Chief Executive Officer of Manatee Community Foundation. "This work is a great example of how public-private partnerships leverage resources across donors, nonprofits, businesses, and government to build solutions that change lives and strengthen the fabric of our community for generations."

Students from Mantee County Schools' Electa Lee Middle School designed and painted the mural that brightens the shelter’s cafeteria.

Sarah Carter, the program manager with Helping Up Mission, provided BayNews 9 with a tour of the facility, as she explained, “It’s not a one-size-fits-all program. We want to have a resource center that’s going to be able to provide all of the landing pads and the courses for the different pathways that people are going to choose."

Featured speakers at Wednesday’s event included Commissioner Amanda Ballard, Helping Up Mission CEO Daniel Stoltzfus, former Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy, and Bradenton City Mayor Gene Brown.

Click the video below to replay the ceremony’s speakers.