Homeless Shelter Honors Missing Woman's Work

TAMPA - She has been missing for more than two years, but those who know Sandra Prince said today that she would be proud of them for continuing to help people find homes and conquer their addictions.

"Maybe she's watching us today and saying we're doing good work," said Eric Walden, as a 14-room shelter for the homeless in North Tampa was dedicated today in Prince's name.

The Sandra Prince Samaritan Home will provide long-term support for people with a long history of being homeless, said Richard Brown, chief executive officer of the Agency for Community Treatment Service Inc.

Prince was an administrator for ACTS for more than 30 years and began her career as a program director for a 50-bed detoxification program. She was reported missing in January 2006. At the time of her disappearance, a South Tampa home on Vasconia Street was being built by contractor Earl Pippin III, Prince's boyfriend.

A concrete slab was poured for the home about the time of Prince's disappearance. Since then, Temple Terrace police have excavated the home's yard twice searching for evidence, including Prince's remains. None were found.

The investigation continues, Temple Terrace police spokesman Michael Dunn said today.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony for the shelter, Prince's co-workers and friends said they did not want to dwell on her disappearance.

"There's still no closure on her case," Brown said. "But this is a recognition, not a memorial."

Brochures and bookmark-sized sheets of paper where distributed during the ceremony. Some had "Sandra Prince: You are always on my mind" printed on them.

Residents of the two-story red brick house at 11710 N. 17th St. can stay indefinitely, Brown said. A staff of six will monitor the house 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Other agencies will provide veterans, mental health and substance abuse services and programs at the site, Brown said.

Over the past three years, more than $1 million in state funding went toward renovating the house, Brown said.

"This facility is going to serve a group of people who need our help," said Walden, the treasurer of ACTS. The nonprofit agency was founded in 1978 and serves residents of Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties.

Prince's influence was felt today, Brown said.

"She shined as an administrator," he said. "We've missed her."

Susan Horton, Prince's friend, thanked ACTS for honoring Prince. "The feeling I got was the love you have for Sandra and the respect you have for her work," Horton said.

Steve Hearn, the vice president of ACTS' board of directors, said Prince was always proud of what the agency did for the community. He spoke of her in the present tense.

"She has such a wonderful perspective, a wonderful optimism, that infected other people," he said. "We miss her. We hope she's happy, wherever she is."