Renovated House Becomes a Home for Two Formerly Homeless Men in Riviera Beach

Feeding Hope Village and Community Partners of South Florida (CPSFL) recently celebrated the completion of a newly renovated house that has become a home and a place of hope for two formerly homeless men. A ribbon-cutting on Monday, June 28, 2021, attended by Riviera Beach dignitaries and community leaders marked the first of several proposed expansion phases at Faith Deliverance Ministries’ Feeding Hope Village in collaboration with CPSFL, which initially purchased and renovated the home. Future plans include the renovation of the existing church and the enlargement of the food pantry as well as the development of new residential, affordable units on the adjacent vacant parcel.
The home’s new residents are two gentlemen referred by the Senator Philip D. Lewis Center and clients of CPSFL’s Rapid Rehousing Program, which provides housing to homeless individuals along with the support necessary for them to reach their housing goals. The ultimate goal of the program is self-sufficiency and for the clients to regain their independence after facing the challenges of homelessness in Palm Beach County. CPSFL will provide the initial support of rental assistance and will guide the clients to gradually start paying their portion of the rent on their own and provide housing case management, financial education, employment assistance, and linkage to community and mental health resources.
As home prices continue to rise and affordable and workforce housing inventories continues to decline in Palm Beach County, residents are being forced out of the community. Recognizing the dwindling supply, Feeding Hope Village and CPSFL joined together to create their own through the purchase and rehab of homes in a supportive community environment focused on residents’ economic success.
Scott Hansel, CEO of Community Partners of South Florida commented at the event, “We have an extraordinary deficit in the supply of housing for people of low to moderate income in Palm Beach County. Being able to supply housing that people can afford is such an important part of helping them move forward in terms of economic mobility and stability. A big part of our mission to increase the housing supply in innovative ways and partnering with churches who have land and resources is a way to do that.”
Diane Lewis, First Lady of Faith Deliverance Ministries agrees that collaboration is the key. “We need each other to make this happen. It is important that we come together with our resources and the resources that already exist to combat homelessness in our community.”
During the program that preceded the ribbon-cutting, dignitaries addressing the crowd of supporters included Mayor of Riviera Beach Ronnie L. Fielder and Riviera Beach Councilman Riviera Beach Tradrick McCoy (District 1). Senior Pastor Bishop Oscar Lewis Sr. closed with program with a meaningful prayer. Other dignitaries attending the event included Jonathan Evans, City Manager of Riviera Beach and Riviera Beach Councilwoman Shirley D. Lanier, District 3.
Following the ribbon-cutting, Riviera Beach City Manager Jonathan Evans and Riviera Beach CRA Director of Neighborhood Services Annetta Jenkins shared that the city would donate a much-needed washer and dryer to the gentlemen to add to their new home, which is filled with beautiful furnishings generously donated by members of the community.
“While this project increases housing supply, it also advances the mission of the church to build quality homes and to build community,” said Hansel.
“Everybody needs a place to call home,” added Lewis.
About Feeding Hope Village
Feeding Hope Village is a community resource hub for the local population in Riviera Beach, Florida, where the needy can obtain access to free healthy food, assistance to help them from becoming homeless, employment referrals, information outreach and referral, social service and health information. Feeding Hope Village was created by Faith Deliverance Church of God Center to be a social services outreach entity. The agency currently serves 700 families on a monthly basis and recognized the need for additional services. For more information, please contact Diane Lewis at 561-290-6621.
About Community Partners of South Florida
Community Partners of South Florida is a $16 million comprehensive community development nonprofit agency headquartered in Riviera Beach that provides services to families facing social, emotional and financial adversity. By using a unique, breakthrough approach integrating housing and financial empowerment, child and family mental health, and community services, Community Partners creates self-sustaining families and communities and serves as a driver for growing its local economy.  For more information about Community Partners of South Florida, visit cp-cto.org. Community Partners is a proud chartered affiliate of Neighborworks America, a national, nonpartisan nonprofit striving to make every community a place of opportunity. For more information on Neighborworks America, please contact Hilary Rowe Wiley at hwiley@nw.org.
###