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Hillsborough Fire Marshal Gives OK To Veterans Shelter

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By SHERRI ACKERMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 25, 2008

TAMPA - Nearly three months after code violations forced 13 men to leave Liberty Manor, the shelter for homeless veterans is ready to welcome them back.

Inspectors from the Hillsborough County Fire Marshal's Office gave a thumbs up this week to the owners of the two-story house at 10015 N. Ninth St. after citing them in April for not having proper fire safety equipment.

The installation of a new sprinkler system and water reservoir was completed last week, leaving only a few last-minute details.

"They brought everything back up to code," Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Jace Kohan said.

On Saturday, about 60 volunteers from the Pepsi Bottling Group and Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, a nonprofit organization made up of people in the building industry, plan to give the shelter a makeover, from fresh paint to a screened lanai.

"They said it would take us a year to do this," said Connie Blaney, who opened the home with her husband, Bill, in 2006. "It took three months."

She credits community support. After word got out that Liberty Manor needed help, Blaney received $4,000 in donations. She still had to take out a personal loan, she said, to cover the estimated $48,000 needed for the reservoir and sprinkler system.

Former Marine Douglas Leass, owner of Fidelis Fire Protection in Clearwater, donated his time to install the reservoir and sprinkler system.

"We're absolutely a brotherhood and a sisterhood," said Leass, who served during Desert Shield and in Iraq. "If you don't take care of each other, who will?"

Leass also credited Fire Marshal Todd Spear with helping make sure the job got done quickly.

"We'd still be pulling permits without him," Leass said.

Blaney said she still needs help. The hardest part for her is that many of the men who lived in the house won't be returning. Blaney arranged for them to stay at a nearby shelter, New Beginnings, but most of them have since left.

"We don't know where they went," she said.

Only about five remain at New Beginnings, where organizers require residents to participate in a treatment program.

"We test them each week," said New Beginnings pastor Tom Atchison, who estimates at least one of the former Liberty Manor residents will remain in his program. "If they decide to stay, we have to bring them under our rules."

The Blaneys, who operate two other houses, don't allow drinking or drug use on the property. But Liberty Manor is their home, not a program, Connie Blaney said.

The house is supported by the veterans, who pay a reduced rent with income from their government benefits or jobs.

For James Cherry, a former Army Ranger, Liberty Manor is a place where he finally feels at peace. His uniform hangs on a bedroom wall. His medals are displayed in a frame.

"I actually came here because I lost everything," said Cherry, who now serves as shelter director.

After several failed marriages, Cherry found himself alone and on the street.

"I've lived a rough life," said the 38-year-old veteran, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. "I've always wanted a family. I came here and I got it."

For information about Liberty Manor or to help, call (813) 352-7856 or go to www.libertymanor.org.

Reporter Sherri Ackerman can be reached at (813) 259-7144 or sackerman@tampatrib.com.

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