Behavioral‑health providers, reentry groups outline plans for central receiving facility and sober housing

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Behavioral‑health providers and reentry organizations described multi‑partner plans on Feb. 1 for a central receiving facility and transitional housing, and asked the Flagler County legislative delegation for state assistance and guidance on funding.

Salvatore Genitelli (presenting on behalf of SMA Healthcare) and Andrew Williams (introduced during the remarks) described a planned central receiving facility that the presenters said would offer 24/7 access to behavioral‑health services. Genitelli said the facility would include a 20‑bed integrated stabilization unit and a 28‑bed men’s residential program. He told the delegation that Flagler County had put forward $10,000,000 for construction and that SMA had identified $4,000,000 in matching funds and that the parties were exploring additional funding partners including state agencies.

Representatives of Open Door Reentry and Recovery described a previously awarded $750,000 grant they used to purchase property and to begin site development for a recovery campus with up to 17 tiny homes and a community/fellowship center. Pastor Charles Solano said new median construction on State Route 11 has changed access and added land‑development costs; he and collaborator Toby Tobin said additional site preparation and access work would cost roughly $500,000 and that the group still had about $193,000 left from the earlier grant. Solano said the project includes $650,000 in deed‑free property as local contribution.

Separately, Michael Feldbauer of the Flagler County Drug Court Foundation asked the delegation for $66,000 to open two sober living homes (one for men and one for women) to provide addresses and stable housing for drug‑court participants during the first year of operation; he said after the first year the program expected to be self‑sustaining.

Why it matters: Delegation members and presenters framed the requests as addressing gaps in crisis access, inpatient stabilization and transitional housing — services leaders said are needed to reduce repeat crises and support long‑term recovery. Senator Leake and Representative Greco thanked the presenters and indicated they would help navigate state funding options and agency partners.

Looking ahead: Presenters said they would follow up with delegation staff on specific funding pathways and requested technical assistance in identifying state grant programs and potential Department of Children and Families or state behavioral‑health funding sources.