Manatee County’s Under One Roof Gateway South Welcomes First Clients
Manatee County Government announces that the Under One Roof “Gateway South” Shelter is now welcoming its first clients, marking a major milestone in the County’s ongoing efforts to support women impacted by addiction, homelessness, and trauma.
Gateway South is a women-focused shelter and recovery center designed to provide a safe, secure, and healing environment where clients can access critical services under one roof. The facility is staffed and programmed through Helping Up Mission (HUM) and works in close coordination with community partners including Turning Points, Centerstone, the Salvation Army, and Fresh Start Manatee to create a compassionate continuum of care across Manatee County.
“This project reflects our shared commitment to meeting people where they are and providing real pathways to stability and hope,” said Manatee County District 2 Commissioner Amanda Ballard. “By opening Gateway South to its first clients, we are delivering on a promise to invest in solutions that change lives and strengthen our entire community.”
The Gateway South facility is located at 407 57th Ave. E., Bradenton, transforming a former Sheriff’s Office building into a center for healing and recovery. The project was funded in part by opioid settlement dollars, HUD’s HOME-ARP Program, and Manatee County contributions.
The Gateway South facility includes:
Safe and secure accommodations for women in recovery
Supportive services, case management, and healthcare coordination
Therapeutic spaces and modern technology infrastructure
Secure, respectful, and trauma-informed design
“This is more than the opening of a facility—it’s the beginning of a new chapter for the women we serve,” said Sarah Carter, Program Manager of the Gateway South Women’s Shelter. “Gateway South was intentionally designed to be trauma-informed, respectful, and supportive, so every woman who walks through our doors feels safe, valued, and empowered to begin her recovery journey.”
Gateway South builds on the County’s broader Under One Roof initiative, which focuses on aligning partners, services, and resources to address homelessness and substance use disorder through collaboration and long-term recovery solutions.
For more information about Under One Roof Gateway South and Manatee County’s housing and recovery initiatives, visit www.mymanatee.org.
For more information about Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ManateeGov.
Really solid reporting on Gateway South's opening. What stands out is the trauma-informed design approach, which is something I've seen work well in other recovery-focused facilities. Repurposing a former Sheriff's Office buiding for this purpose is interesting too, especially with the funding mix from opioid settlements and HOME-ARP. Collaboration between HUM, Turning Points, and the other partners seems like the kind of coordination that actually makes a differnce when you're trying to address the gap between emergency shelter and long-term stability.