Manatee County drug rehab and Sarasota church face neighborhood backlash
Residents in two counties are pushing back against social service providers, citing safety concerns and zoning disputes.
By Charles Reed ·
Neighborhoods in Manatee and Sarasota counties are mounting resistance against local social service providers, forcing officials to weigh public safety against the need for housing and recovery programs.
The conflict centers on The Crossings, a drug recovery facility in Oneco, and the Remnant Church in Sarasota. Both organizations provide essential services for vulnerable populations, yet both face organized opposition from nearby homeowners who cite safety risks and quality of life issues.
In Manatee County, The Crossings has operated for slightly more than two years on 24th Street East. Founder Jim Rouches established the facility to offer a safe space for addiction recovery. The site houses up to 90 clients in dormitories and small apartments. Commissioners approved the program in 2025, though Amanda Ballard cast the sole dissenting vote. Neighbors argue the site should be classified as a large recovery home rather than a residential treatment facility, a distinction that would alter zoning rules.
Margi Nanney, a resident who has lived in Oneco for 40 years, led a protest in September. She filed complaints with state regulators regarding the facility. Her concerns escalated after Jacob Sulzman was charged with prowling and possession of a controlled substance in June. Sulzman, whose arrest paperwork listed The Crossings as his address, attempted to break into a home down the street. Nanney said a woman and her grandchildren hid inside while Sulzman tried to open the front door. Facility leadership noted Sulzman had been discharged ten days prior.
Chad Dubin, the new CEO of The Crossings, acknowledged gaps in previous background checks and discharge processes. He stated the board and most staff were replaced after the incident. "There are two communities that we want to protect in our decisions," Dubin said. "The first one is our community here of our clients and our staff, but the other community is our neighbors."
In Sarasota County, the Remnant Church offers meals, showers, and laundry services to homeless individuals four days a week. Christine Nordstrom, president of the Ashton Enclave Condo Association across the street, filed a complaint in August. She reported witnessing a man defecate behind a neighbor's house and noted that clients sometimes sleep under the six raised back porches in the complex. The church received a notice of violation from county officials.
Tammy Burns, the church's homeless services director, said the organization faces similar complaints wherever it operates. "It's just harder and harder to find somebody a place to be," Burns said. County zoning code prohibits social service operations in residential areas without a special exception. Remnant could petition to rezone its property to a commercial district, a process that would cost thousands of dollars.
Taylor Neighbors, CEO of the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness, said the organization struggled to find a landlord for its second office in Manatee County. She described the process as disheartening due to landlord perceptions. Neighbors of both facilities argue that while they support the missions, the locations are poorly suited for such operations.
The next step involves updated internal procedures at The Crossings and potential zoning petitions by the Remnant Church. Residents in both areas continue to file complaints with local and state agencies.
