By Joanna Putman
Police1
SARASOTA, Fla. — A proposed Florida workforce housing project would provide affordable housing for sheriff’s office employees, FOX 13 reported.
Rising housing costs have become a significant challenge affecting law enforcement personnel, Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman told FOX 13. The housing crisis forced one Sarasota SWAT team deputy to resign and move back to Texas after facing an unexpected rent surge, according to the report.
“I enjoy coming to work and solving problems,” Hoffman said. “This is just one I could not conquer alone.”
A potential solution emerged when Mark Vengroff of One Stop Housing was approached by local realtor Michael Saunders with an offer, according to the report.
“She approached me and said I have this piece of land. I have been so fortunate, and I want to give back to this community that has been so kind to me,” Vengroff told FOX 13.
The collaboration, facilitated through the Argus Foundation, led to plans for a new housing complex featuring 48 units of affordable housing. Half of these units will be designated for Sheriff’s office employees, according to the report.
“The fact that our communications operators, our booking officials in the jail will be very close to the jail. It’s very exciting,” Sheriff Hoffman said."It is not the silver bullet. There [are] a lot of different approaches to take to tackle this problem and this is one that will probably have a significant impact,” he said.
The project awaits approval from the Sarasota City Commission, with hopes to begin construction by fall and complete by the end of 2025, according to the report.