Dave’s House Celebrates Sanford LaunchPad Opening, Advancing Supportive Housing in Seminole County

On January 28, 2026, we officially launched our new Sanford LaunchPad office at The Neighborhood COOP—marking an exciting milestone in our growing presence in Seminole County and our continued expansion of permanent supportive housing for adults living with serious mental illness and co-occurring disabilities.

From Left to Right: Christin Ray | Executive Director of Behavioral Health | AdventHealth | Dave’s House Board Member, Chris Hayes | Dave’s House Board Member, Ray Dorman Vice Chair | Dave’s House Board Member, Ellen O’Connor, CEO Dave’s House, Mark A. Coleman | Dave’s House Board Member, Elena Norman | Chairperson | Dave’s House Board, Brian Thomas | Dave’s House Board Member, Meghan Curren | Universal Orlando Foundation

 The morning was filled with energy, connection, and community pride as elected officials, nonprofit partners, healthcare leaders, and supporters gathered to help us celebrate this next chapter. Guests toured our LaunchPad office, connected with our team, and learned more about how we continue to expand access to housing, stability, and supportive services across Central Florida. For us, the Sanford LaunchPad represents far more than a physical office—it serves as a hub for collaboration, project coordination, and community engagement, keeping our team closely connected to the people and partners driving impact in Seminole County.

“Our Sanford LaunchPad office keeps us close to the heart of our next major project and the community we are serving,” said Ellen O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer of Dave’s House. “As we move forward with Dave’s House at Celery—our first multi-unit residential neighborhood—this location allows us to stay engaged, collaborate more easily with partners, and prepare to welcome future residents with intention and care.”

Why Sanford. Why Now.

Dave’s House at Celery is our first supportive housing, multi-unit residential neighborhood, currently in development in partnership with Community Assisted & Supported Living (CASL) and built alongside HomeAid Orlando. This project represents an important evolution in our housing model, creating a neighborhood environment that supports stability, dignity, and long-term success.

Establishing our Sanford LaunchPad places our team directly within the community where this new neighborhood is taking shape—strengthening relationships, increasing visibility, and reinforcing our long-term commitment to Seminole County. The strong turnout at our LaunchPad ribbon cutting reflected that shared commitment. Community leaders, partners, and supporters showed up not just to celebrate a new office, but to stand alongside a mission that recognizes housing as healthcare and stability as a foundation for recovery.

We are deeply grateful to all the partners and supporters who make this work possible. We are especially thankful for our long-standing collaboration with Aspire Health Partners in Orange County and to AdventHealth for their continued support of our mission. We are also grateful to Universal Orlando for their generous grant, which helps advance our impact. To our Board of Directors and the many generous donors who believe in this work—thank you. Your partnership, advocacy, and investment make it possible for us to continue creating pathways to stability, dignity, and hope.

Building Access Through Collaboration

Adding to the significance of the day, we celebrated the opening of our Sanford LaunchPad alongside our new neighbor across the hall—the Mental Health Association of Central Florida (MHACF), which also officially opened its Sanford office. MHACF’s new office expands the organization’s presence in Seminole County and houses its newest Outlook Clinic, developed in partnership with AdventHealth and the Florida Department of Children and Families. The clinic provides no-cost mental and behavioral health services for uninsured and underinsured children, adolescents, and adults.

“Our new Sanford office positions MHACF to better serve the growing needs of Seminole County,” said Marni Stahlman, President & Chief Executive Officer of MHACF. “By being here, we can expand our outreach, strengthen community connections, and ensure individuals and families have direct access to life-changing mental health support.”

While we serve distinct roles, our close proximity is intentional—designed to encourage collaboration and strengthen coordination between housing and mental health services. The Sanford LaunchPad reflects a shared commitment to improving how the community is served by creating clearer, more connected pathways to stable housing and essential mental health resources.

Looking Ahead

The launch of our Sanford LaunchPad represents an important step forward as we prepare for the future—advancing Dave’s House at Celery, deepening local partnerships, and continuing to expand permanent supportive housing opportunities throughout Central Florida and beyond.

“This milestone reflects what’s possible when organizations come together with a shared commitment to housing, dignity, and hope. The Sanford LaunchPad strengthens collaboration and helps lay the foundation for expanding permanent supportive housing and creating communities where people can truly feel at home.”
— Ellen O’Connor, CEO, Dave’s House