Jared Cashner and James Sanzeri are Changing Lives &
Attitudes |Owners of the Sanctuary House, Fort Lauderdale
by Armando Diaz  

Near the heart of Wilton Manors, driving past 116 NW 25th Street (just west of
Andrews Avenue), you might not think twice to look upon it.  You might not think
it anything aside from another "fixer-upper" in the  ravaged real estate
landscape of Fort Lauderdale.  However 116 NW 25th Street is not only an
example of how to once again, NOT judge a book by it's cover.  But it is also a
beacon of perseverance, hope, and determination.   

The House was founded by Jared Cashner (45, a native of Kentucky) and his
partner James Sanzeri (21, born and raised in Sunrise, FL), Sanctuary House's
evolution from a dilapidated and abandoned crack house into the beautiful
manifestation it is becoming today, is nothing short of an exercise in will power
and confidence.  Those are the very elements that Jared and James inspire daily
upon their clients also referred to as "sanctuary residents".   

The Sanctuary House's mission statement reads that, "The binding
mission... is a resolute commitment to excellence while
providing structure and direction for a life absent of the strain
caused by addiction".

 met with the couple on a balmy June afternoon, over nicely prepared
sandwiches, empanadas and refreshments.  Sitting in with us was also Tim
Harisses, who runs an area
events coordination and
promotions firm, which has
been instrumental in the
marketing and branding of
The Sanctuary House. 

Armando | What was the
birth child for Sanctuary
House, how did it all come
about? 
Jared | It actually came
about by accident, we had a
friend who had been down
and out, displaced and he
was homeless.  We weren't
sure about inviting him into
our home, so instead we went
to go rent him an apartment
in what was a just dilapidated
and not at it's best. And we
rented the apartment and
put him in there to help him
out part time.  Well before
we knew it, he had called a
few others whom he had told
about us and we called the
.

 
well they weren't too thrilled at the first thought of having us here when they saw all the work and
how many other community partners got involved so quickly.  From different churches to different
civic organizations to total strangers who'd send us checks in the mail and this is how this all came
to being right down to the chair that you're sitting on.  We actually invite our police on property,
they come by all the time by invitation, they meet our guys and they realize that they're here for
the right reasons and we can get them help.  Wilton Manors Police has done just that, they are truly
one of our biggest allies.

Armando | What's your specific role or title would you say then?
Jared  |  I own the property and am essentially the general manager, James handles all the daily
operations.

Armando | Now myself and our readers in trying to understand the functions within the Sanctuary
House, would you call yourself mentors?
Jared | That's a good question.
James | Yeah.
Jared | I don't think mentor is the right word, we live our lives like we're supposed to live, and we
don't expect more or less from anybody else that lives here. We (ourselves) follow the same rules.
We have curfew every night, 11 o'clock.
.

 
  job interviews, food, and transportation, as well as the cost for the primary need to
   see a doctor. The scholarship has reached up to $4,000 dollars and is issued to
   qualified applicants multiple times per year*

Armando | So you're close knit with pretty much all the major LGBT groups in the area?
Jared | Absolutely we would not have been able to survive without them.  I'll give you a prime
example we have our van that was donated to us b/c they heard that our older van was broken
down, and even being brand new they donated it to us.  We use it during the day to make some
money doing some courier delivering, it goes right back into the homeless fund.  We have a flea
market that takes place here every other month...we've never taken a dime of government
money.  We live off donations and what we earn for ourselves here.

Armando |  The residents that are here are they different age groups?
James | Yes they are we've had residents as young as (18) we've had residents as old as (72), the
key is if they want help and are willing to accept help then we'll help them.

Armando | Now do you all have the rules of a 12-step program installed here?
James | Yes we do, we have a Sunday meeting here at 6 o'clock every week.  They're required to
attend (4) outside meetings weekly with a sign in sheet managed by the chairperson of that
particular group.  But not rules, I would call it more...guidelines.
Jared | Curfew... we all have to live by a curfew.  We all have to go to work every day.  Whether
you're employed or not that's still a part of life.  Getting up and cooking for yourself and cleaning
for yourself...integrating back into society minus the drugs and alcohol, and there's a lot here to do!
 We have the Fuzion Club (great social club), Java Boys (great social area...I spend a lot of my
hours there!  We have sober league bowling, sober league softball teams...we have the GLCC
here.  This is our home

Armando |  Is there anything that would be considered a violation by a resident?
Jared | Yes, bringing drugs and alcohol on to the property...
James | Not coming home by curfew and/or missing a bed check.
Jared | We're willing to get up and we care enough about this to work second jobs and be here all
afternoon and working on this house non-stop...working on their schedules, finding them referrals..
The Sanctuary House is a transitional sober living community, and is based in Broward County
serving all of South Florida.

For more information or to volunteer:
Please call 954-882-8363 (Office) or visit www.sanctuaryhouse.info

References:
Events Without Borders
Tim Harisses
www.eventswithoutborders.com

Wilton Manors Police Department
www.wmpd.org

Commissioner Scott Newton
www.votenewton.com

Fort Lauderdale Hospital
www.fortlauderdalehospital.org
954-895-6057

Photos by Armando Diaz, Jr.
CLICK HERE for more Armando Diaz, Jr.

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