For 49 years, Eddie Struttmann and his family have owned Ace Hardware in Indialantic, where he’s enjoyed helping customers with their household repairs and projects. But for his next big project, Struttmann hopes to help homeless families find permanent, affordable housing of their own.
Through the recently organized nonprofit Saint Stephen’s Way, a plan is in motion to build 32, three-bedroom apartments and a community clubhouse on eight acres of donated land near Crane Creek in Melbourne, exclusively for homeless families.
Families will be referred by the school district for placement and the rent will be $600 monthly, which includes utilities. Other on-site services and support programs will also be offered.
“Our mission is to build from the ground up, a self-sustaining community that fosters love and support from within, so that families can work together with the common goal of achieving an independent and stable livelihood,” Struttmann said. “It is my hope that we can build this unique community debt-free and that it be self-sustaining so that we can bring the proven model to other municipalities.”
Over the past year, Saint Stephen’s Way appointed the former director of Daily Bread, Inc., John Farrell, to serve as its executive director, formed a board of directors, obtained 501c3 status, and hope to begin construction on the development in 2019.
It has also received tremendous support from local groups and organizations, including 8 acres of donated land from People of Destiny Christian Fellowship Church in Melbourne.
It was during Struttmann’s work as a volunteer with Farrell at the Daily Bread that he first took note of the tremendous difficulty men with families had when trying to reestablish themselves into proper housing and employment.
While several local shelters provide housing for women with children, few provide it for the father as well.
“The more we worked one-on-one with these men, the more we realized how limited affordable housing was in Brevard County and that it was even more limited for men with children or families,” Struttmann said. “Many times, these men were employed and had an income, but they simply could not afford the first and last rent as well as the deposits required to acquire reasonable housing.”
When Farrell agreed to join the ministry, he began to research the problem of displaced children in Brevard County School System and found that in the 2017-2018 school year, 2,765 children in the Brevard County School System were classified as homeless with a large segment of these children living in campgrounds, motels or in their family cars.
“This is the segment we wanted to help,” Farrell said. “These families need the ability to find affordable housing with supportive services, so they can get out of poverty and have a decent life.”
Struttmann said the original idea for Saint Stephen’s Way began with the plight of a young couple who had two infant children and were living on the street.
“Discouraged by their inability to find affordable and adequate housing and knowing the hardship ahead of trying to raise infant children while being homeless, they sought to leave their children at a local fire station,” Struttmann said. “The fire station was able to find housing for the mother and the children but there was nowhere for the family to stay together as an intact family. It was the plight of this family that began the journey of Saint Stephen’s Way, to find dignified and reasonable housing for men with families.”
In its annual report, Florida’s Council on Homelessness found that families with minor children represent about 30 percent of the homeless population in Florida and urged policy makers to adopt a “housing first” mentality – by enacting programs and policies that provide stable, affordable and appropriate housing.
Struttmann named Saint Stephen’s Way in honor of his younger brother Stephen, who died of aplastic anemia at just 18 years old.
“He was a beautiful young soul who just loved life and was loved by all that knew him. It has always been my wish to honor him in some way, and I can’t think of a better way to honor him then to help other people whom are struggling by easing the pressures of life so that they too can love life in its fullness,” Struttmann said. “My hope for Saint Stephen’s Way is that we can reach those families that are in the most dire of circumstances and lift them out of these circumstances – of which, many times, they have no control over, and bring them into a home that gives them safety and security; a home that gives them dignity and hope, and above all, a home that brings them to the peace and prosperity of a family.”