Congressman Matt Gaetz toured One Hopeful Place on Thursday, June 20, 2024, marking his first visit to the homeless shelter facility in Fort Walton Beach in several years. 

• Gaetz, who helped secure initial funding for the project when he served in the Florida House of Representatives, spent the morning speaking with residents and observing the facility’s operations.

During the lengthy tour, Gaetz engaged with every resident he came across, inquiring about their backgrounds and the circumstances that led them to One Hopeful Place. The congressman expressed amazement at the facility’s growth and impact since his last visit.

“When Ted had this vision, my first thought was that almost anything would have made the blighted property better,” Gaetz said, recalling his initial impression of the project. “And thanks to our former Fort Walton Beach Mayor Mike Anderson and Ted Corcoran, we’ve used this as a platform for hope now. And it’s a remarkable thing.”

Ted Corcoran, CEO of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, emphasized Gaetz’s crucial role in the facility’s establishment. “One Hopeful Place would not be there if Congressman Matt Gaetz had not got the vision and had not got that first appropriation for $300,000,” Corcoran said.

The project’s origins date back to the early 2000s when panhandling became a significant issue in Fort Walton Beach. With other aspects of homelessness being addressed by organizations like Opportunity Place and Fresh Start, the community identified a need for a men’s shelter. Securing funding proved challenging until then-House Representative Gaetz stepped in.

• “We took him on a tour and he saw the vision. And that’s the key: Some people like helping the homeless and some don’t, and Congressman Gaetz, in this case, saw it,” Corcoran recalled.

The facility has expanded significantly since its inception. Originally a men’s shelter, it now accommodates 50 single men and 17 single women. One Hopeful Place offers programs and services for those seeking self-sufficiency, with a focus on changing lives to better the community.

Recent developments include the demolition of old concrete clarifiers on the property, funded by a $200,000 state appropriation secured by Rep. Patt Maney. This project aims to remove environmental hazards and create space for potential expansion of services.

Corcoran detailed the progress, “In 2020, Bridgeway came in, that was the same date that we opened the men’s shelter. So the men’s shelter opens with 50 men, and what was the pole barn and the original men’s shelter is now for 17 women.”

The demolition project, which began on April 3, 2024, removed concrete structures that have been dormant for 25 years. Those remnants of a previous water treatment plant had been collecting rainwater and serving as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Corcoran outlined future plans for the facility, including the possibility of affordable housing on the newly cleared land. “There’ll be some type of affordable housing on that property. Perhaps apartments that can go two or three stories high as part of the village transition,” he said.

• In the short term, the organization is considering using the cleared land for fundraising purposes, such as boat parking. Corcoran also expressed a desire to add amenities for residents, including an exercise facility and a building for meals and church services.

Gaetz praised the facility’s success rate and its approach to addressing homelessness. “A 70% success rate of the people who’ve been through here would blow just about any program the federal government runs out of the water,” he said. “Here we’ve got the right mix of services, counseling, mentorship and the meeting of basic needs. When you do that, people move through the process and go on to more stability and more productivity.”

The congressman emphasized the importance of One Hopeful Place in the context of broader challenges with homelessness across the country. 

• “I’ve been to so many places in America where they fail at addressing the homelessness problem,” Gaetz said, contrasting the situation in Fort Walton Beach with issues faced in California and New York.

“In California, they’ve surrendered to the homeless and the homeless are in every green space and they have blighted the major urban centers of that state. In New York, they have a guaranteed right to housing that has filled 20 percent of all hotel rooms in the city with the homeless,” Gaetz explained.

Since its opening in October 2016, One Hopeful Place has served 375 participants, with 55% assisted in finding housing and 20% being U.S. military veterans. The organization also serves as the cold night shelter for Southern Okaloosa County and offers a day program for those seeking housing.

Corcoran highlighted the diverse backgrounds of those served by One Hopeful Place, sharing an encounter with a resident who was formerly a practicing chiropractor. “I just met a guy who used to be a practicing chiropractor and something happened in his life that now he’s having to stay in a communal homeless shelter,” he said. 

As of February 2024, eligible participants are required to pay $100 per week. Veterans and Okaloosa County residents have priority on admission to One Hopeful Place through an established verification process.

The facility is also working on expanding its services. Corcoran mentioned plans to relocate some services currently provided on First Street in downtown Fort Walton Beach to One Hopeful Place. “We have talked with all of the entities on First Street, and we’re looking at moving the church services up here in addition to the sidewalk sleeping,” he said.

• A 30ft by 60ft tent is expected to be set up in the coming weeks to provide a space for meals, showers, and laundry services. This expansion aims to centralize services and provide more comprehensive support to those in need.

Gaetz encouraged local businesses and community members to support One Hopeful Place. “There’s a lot of need here as well. And the folks who run One Hopeful Place will be brilliant in pairing whatever you can do or give to the needs of someone who’s trying to make their life better,” he said.

As One Hopeful Place continues to grow and evolve, it continues its mission to remain a source of pride for Okaloosa County, offering hope and assistance to those in need while working towards long-term solutions for homelessness in the community.

“One Hopeful Place is something for Okaloosa County to be incredibly proud of,” added Congressman Gaetz. “There is God’s work happening here every day.”