To provide housing support to children and their families to prevent and end housing insecurity in South Sarasota County.

Our Mission

Our Vision

To provide comprehensive services to ensure children and their families achieve lasting self-sufficiency and every child has the opportunity to realize their full potential.

Awards & Recognition

2021 Nonprofit of the Year
North Port Chamber of Commerce

2020 Nonprofit of the Year
Venice Area Chamber of Commerce

2019 Rookie of the Year
North Port Chamber of Commerce

Our History

Over 1,000 children are identified as housing insecure in Sarasota County each year. 1 in every 18 students in Sarasota County has experienced housing insecurities. About 50% of those students are in South Sarasota County — Venice, Englewood, North Port, Nokomis, Osprey. Venice High School had the highest per capita population of students in a housing crisis in 2017. In 2018 and 2019, that has shifted to North Port High School.

The Problem

The Effects of Housing Insecurity on Children

The Effects of Housing Insecurity on Children

Children who experience housing insecurity engage in health risk behaviors at significantly higher rates than their housed peers due to exposure to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), detrimental to their development.

Youth experiencing housing insecurities are:

  • 9 times more likely to repeat a grade

  • 4 times more likely to not graduate

  • 5 times more likely to be victims of sexual and physical dating violence

  • 6 times more likely to abuse drugs

  • 4 times more likely to misuse prescription pain medication

  • 7 times more likely to attempt suicide

The Gap in Housing Costs for Children and Families

There is a significant gap between renters’ wages and the cost of rental housing across the country. The estimated hourly wage needed for a 2 bedroom rental in Florida is $26.38/hour. The Florida minimum wage is $12.00/hour.

Many Families Do Not Qualify For the Help They Need

The national definition of housing insecurity includes sleeping the previous night in a place lacking water or electricity. A parent does everything in their power to prevent this from happening for their children, including paying for a hotel with their paycheck or staying with friends and relatives.

As a consequence, these families are not considered as housing insecure and do not qualify for federal and state funds and assistance.

Learn More

Our Families Our Future

Family Promise National provided this video about housing challenges families face. Through our work, we can help provide hope and solutions to children and families experiencing one of the most difficult times of their lives.

Impacts of Covid 19 in Sarasota County

Covid was an exceptionally challenging time for local families who are already living paycheck to paycheck. Listen to the video below to hear what our Executive Director, Jennifer Fagenbaum, and Harvest House’s Executive Director, Erin Minor, have to say about working through Covid.

Staff & Board

Jennifer Fagenbaum
Executive Director

Jennifer received her Bachelor degree from Purdue University in Family and Consumer Science Education and Child Development and Family Studies. She has worked within school corporations and community colleges, working with high school students and young adults for 9 years while also supervising colleagues. During that time, she worked to educate individuals in life skills so they could obtain an appropriate education, a satisfying and fulfilling career, and consumer knowledge needed to become self-sufficient. These experiences helped Jennifer to understand the population we are serving and have provided her the unique ability to educate our clients while providing a strong foundation for our program. Jennifer has been with Family Promise SSC since they opened in 2015 and serves as the Executive Director.

In order to help Family Promise SSC grow to do the most good, Jennifer has participated in the following: Venice Area Chamber of Commerce (VACC) member 2016-present, Gulf Coast Community Foundation Leadership Class of 2018, VACC CEO Round Table 2018-2021, Sarasota County Community Action Agency Board (CAAB) 2018-present, Sarasota County Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD) 2019-present, VACC Leadership Class of 2019, FL Housing Coalition member 2019-present, Englewood Chamber of Commerce member 2020-present, North Port Chamber of Commerce member 2020-present, Osprey Nokomis Chamber of Commerce member 2020-present, Family Promise National Affiliate Council 2020-present, National Low-Income Housing Coalition member 2021-present, North Port Leaderships Class of 2022, Venice Police Department Citizens Police Academy 2022.

Kim Ulrich

Assistant Director

Kim Ulrich is excited to serve families of South Sarasota County as the Assistant Director of Family Promise of South Sarasota County. Kim was born and raised on the south side of Chicago where she graduated Highschool from Alan B. Shepard High School in 2015. Kim went on to graduate from Western Illinois University with a BS in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration and a minor in Homeland Security. Kimberly has spent over 7 years in the customer service industry. Kim and her husband moved from the Chicagoland area to Port Charlotte in the beginning of 2021. Prior to coming to Family Promise, Kim served as a Child Protective Investigator with the Department of Children and Families in Port Charlotte, FL. In her free time, Kim enjoys fishing and traveling. She’s excited to utilize her talents with the staff and volunteers at Family Promise of South Sarasota County.

Maddie Sims

Open Doors
Family Service Coordinator

Maddie grew up in Champaign Illinois and later moved to Mackinaw Illinois where she graduated from Dee-Mack High School in 2016. Maddie and her family moved to Florida in 2018. Maddie is attending Florida Gulf Coast University to get her bachelor’s in social work and will get her degree in May of 2023. She plans to further her education by getting her master’s degree in social work. Maddie was in the service industry for 6 years before coming to Family Promise. Maddie enjoys fishing and spending time with family and friends. She is very excited for what her future holds at Family Promise.

Shantel Berry

Bridge Housing
Family Service Coordinator

Shantel grew up in Denver Colorado and graduated from Iver C. Ranum High School in Adams County Colorado in 1991 (which is now a middle school). Shantel earned an Associates degree in Massage Therapy from Heritage College in Denver Colorado in 2005. Shantel resides in Port Charlotte with her two youngest daughters, 2 guinea pigs, and one cat. Shantel has an extensive background in customer service and finance through various companies, such as JP Morgan Chase, Charles Schwab, and Kaiser Permanente as well as working as a massage therapist. Prior to coming to Family Promise Shantel was working as a self employed delivery driver, for companies such as Walmart, DoorDash etc.

In her free time Shantel enjoys watching documentaries about nature, science, psychology and finance, spending time with her family, meditating, being outdoors (roller skating), and going to the beach. Shantel takes pride in her organization and interpersonal skills in which she hopes to utilize to help others be self-sufficient and stable.

Sarah Berner

Administrative Assistant

Sarah grew up in Richmond, Indiana, and graduated from Richmond High School in 1999. She later moved to Springfield, Ohio, where she worked as an Administrative Professional for the Ohio State Highway Patrol and as a Registered Pharmacy Technician and Shift Manager for CVS. With over 25 years of experience in the customer service industry, Sarah has developed a strong skill set. In 2024, she moved to Venice to be closer to her father, stepmother, and oldest daughter. In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading, fishing, and spending time with her family. She is excited to grow with Family Promise.

Brent Dykstra
Courtney Green
Dane DeSantis, Secretary
David Joyner
Jake Tate, President
Jess Fronckowiak
Kelly Olliver, Vice President
Maggie Pittala, Treasurer
Michael Bacon
Paul Cernansky
Rachel Frank
Travis Sparks
Will Betterton

2025 Board of Trustees

Pictured above, left to right: Courtney Green, Rachel Frank, Maggie Pittala, Jess Fronckowiak, David Joyner, Paul Cernansky, Dane DeSantis, Brent Dykstra, Will Betterton, Michael Bacon, Jake Tate, Kelly Olliver, and Travis Sparks

Advisory Council

Steven Boone, former Board President

Mark Beebe, former Board Member

Susan Hanks, former Board Treasurer

Bob Hite, former Board Member

Beth Piel, former Board President

Julie Pinkerton, former Board President

Matthew Britton, former Board Member