Tallahassee needs more affordable housing—specifically for people facing homelessness. That’s why Tallahassee's shelter for the unhoused, the Kearny Center, held a fundraiser at The Dwellings the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 12.
Rick Kearney, who established the emergency shelter in 2015, said he hopes to expand The Dwellings’ capacity for transitional housing next year. It’s already got 130 tiny homes.
“We’re going to build 205 new affordable units, 2- and 3-bedroom units, right here.”
Coach Sue Semrau, the storied former women’s basketball coach at Florida State University, is helping to champion the cause.
“Many of you know that there’s been a lot of budget cuts, government budget cuts, federal budget cuts, and that has impacted the Kearney Center. Almost a third of their budget has been cut – $1.3 million.”
Sonya Wilson, the executive director of the Kearney Center, said the shelter’s mission isn’t a matter of giving people handouts.
“We’re here to assist individuals into becoming independent again. We’re not about enabling people. We’re about empowering them.”
The shelter program plans to start The Dwellings' expansion in the first or second quarter of 2026.
