Habitat for Humanity partners with Planned Parenthood

Carolyn Hileman - The Voice* | May 29, 2008

A win-win for 2 organizations becomes lose-lose for unborn
Zoning ordinances prevented Planned Parenthood from opening an abortion clinic in the Rosemary district of Sarasota, Fla. They did, that is, until Habitat for Humanity’s Sarasota affiliate stepped in to help out.

By agreeing to purchase Planned Parenthood’s land for $10 and build housing on a portion of it, Habitat for Humanity enabled Planned Parenthood to bypass a city requirement that had been preventing the organization from obtaining an occupancy permit.

Planned Parenthood’s dilemma stemmed from city ordinances that required a multifamily “liner” building be constructed at the back of the property before Planned Parenthood could open a clinic at the front. The organization had been unable to secure a builder to meet the requirement…until they found Habitat for Humanity.

Representatives of both Planned Parenthood and Habitat for Humanity Sarasota attended the May 5th Sarasota City Commission meeting to present their plan for appeasing the zoning laws: Habitat would receive the property at almost no cost; the city would get its multifamily liner building; and Planned Parenthood would be allowed to open its facility.

The Commission approved the plan by a vote of 3-2.

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