BRADENTON, Fla. — The debate surrounding a new affordable housing development for veterans in Manatee County is heating up.

What You Need To Know

  • A new affordable housing project for veterans has been proposed by Tunnel to Towers, which would be 126 units

  • Manatee commissioners held a town hall meeting on Saturday to get public feedback on the project  

  • Commissioners have six weeks to decide on a final decision if they want to donate the $7 million land to Tunnels to Towers

Over the weekend, county commissioners hosted a public meeting to hear from veterans and residents about their concerns. The meeting continued a discussion that began on August 8.

If the housing is approved, the county would donate land that currently holds a utilities building off of Cortez Road West.

The non-profit organization Tunnel to Towers would be in charge of the construction of 126 units.

One of the main concerns for both officials and residents is that the complex, called Veterans Village, could attracting homeless individuals.

Lucas Haney, a Navy veteran, attended the meeting to get answers on why commissioners had yet to approve the first part of the project.

"If you help them, then they wouldn’t be homeless,” he said. "I was upset veterans get a bad rep."

Part of Haney’s mission in life is to help other veterans in need.

He works at the Veterans of Foreign Wars as a chaplain and service officer helping other vets, which is why he cares about the proposed complex.

"I think the veteran presence changed the commissioners' tune; they immediately asked how many veterans are here and every hand went up,” he said. "There was something that was said at the meeting that I really took to heart, and it said no one who protected our streets should be living on them."

Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge says Tunnel to Towers answered a lot of concerns at the town hall.

"On the 7th, it was put on the agenda for a vote on the 8th, and some changes had taken place, one, the project that not everyone was familiar with, so we hit pause so we could get a grasp of what exactly we are agreeing to,” said Van Ostenbridge. "Whether or not this facility and this location in this residential area would become a magnet for the homeless... was answered for us. I think we are in good shape as far as that goes."

The commissioners have six weeks until they have to make a final decision for the donation.

Each Veterans Village will be a sober living facility, and only veterans who meet the requirements will be able to live there.

They say they will not accept veterans who:

  • Have a criminal history
  • Were dishonorably discharged
  • Are a registered sex offender