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Florida nurse creating ‘The Hive’ where those with disabilities can live and have supportive community

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Published  February 6, 2025 2:41pm EST
What's Right with Tampa Bay
FOX 13 News

The Florida nurse behind 'The Hive'

Mark Wilson reports.

The Brief

    • A Florida nurse with a passion for helping others created a place where people with disabilities can live, thrive and have a supportive community.
    • It's a deeply personal mission after she saw the struggles her son and others with disabilities faced when they become young adults.
    • The Hive is working to lower the number of units that are needed in Florida of supportive and affordable housing for those with disabilities.

VALRICO, Fla. - A Florida nurse with a heart for helping others is taking on a major challenge. She's creating a place where people with disabilities can live, thrive and be a part of a supportive community.

The backstory:

For Tanya Whitlock, this mission is deeply personal. She saw the struggles her son, Trace, and others faced when young adults with disabilities age out of state education systems. 

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"They all have important things to offer," said Whitlock. "And so, I want to give them a place where they feel like they're thriving. They feel like they have purpose and that they belong." 

By the numbers:

The numbers are staggering. Florida needs more than 7,000 units of supportive and affordable housing for people with disabilities and youth aging out of foster care. 

The Hive is working to lower that number. 

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"Fifty percent of the individuals will be people with disabilities," said Whitlock. "The other 50% would be populations of people that will benefit from the same supports that we're going to already have in place. And so, young people transitioning out of foster care, the elderly, our veterans would also benefit from the space." 

Big picture view:

Their vision includes a community with an on-site medical clinic, pharmacy and caregiving services. Residents will also have access to a computer room, gym, sensory room, meeting spaces, a coffee shop, daycare and even a dental lab training center.

And employment opportunities? That’s a key part of the plan. 

"And there's no place in Florida that really offers that template of people with and without disabilities living together in a space," Whitlock stated. 

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The goal is to build the community near public transportation and shopping centers to ensure accessibility.  

"We feel so strongly that there needs to be a space where people can come to every day, even if they don't live there, that they can come to and have a space to hang out and feel like they're thriving and that they belong," Whitlock said. 

What they're saying:

When FOX 13 visited, The Hive is focused on a hands-on learning experience — composting. With guidance from The Sustainable Living Project, members learned how food waste can turn into rich soil, all while getting up close with some tiny helpersworms.  

"I'm happy we will do the gardening," said Jennifer Boskey, a participant with The Hive. "We have fun." 

From soil to shelter, The Hive is laying the groundwork for something life-changing.  

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"It's a big dream, because it's so needed and there's so many people who would gain value from it," Whitlock said. 

She hopes that with community support, her vision will become a reality, giving people like her son, Trace, a place to call home. 

What you can do:

If you’d like to learn more or support The Hive, visit theinclusivehive.org. 

The Source: The information in this story was gathered through an interview with Tanya Whitlock. 

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