Halifax Urban Ministries
Homeless Prevention & Intervention
Our mission is to prevent homelessness among low-income families by providing emergency assistance & to intervene on behalf of homeless people.
Halifax Urban Ministries is a faith based nonprofit that has served our community since 1981. Almost all of our funding is through financial donations by the local community. 94% of each dollar directly provides services to our guests. We offer homeless prevention & assistance services throughout Volusia County from HUM service centers and distributed services at 30 partner & school locations. Flagler residents may access services at our Ormond Beach locations.
HUM offers 4 primary programs to help our neighbors in need:
Feed-a-Family Homeless Prevention Program distributes over 500 tons of food each year to help families living below the poverty line who often struggle with hunger, nutrition, and food insecurity. We consider this to be our “first line of defense” in preventing homelessness. If we can reduce a family’s grocery bill they will have more funds to pay for rent, utilities, and other household expenses. HUM also provides financial help through prescription, utility & rent assistance and offer referrals and case management to families on the road to self-sufficiency.
Bridge of Hope Daily Hot Meal Program provides almost 100,000 meals annually to the homeless and people in need. Hot lunches are served 363 days each year to the homeless and working poor. Each meal is balanced with protein, vegetables, fruits, salads, a starch, dessert and a beverage. This is often the only quality nutrition our guests have access to.
Hope Place provides emergency housing for up to 3 months for over 100 families with children each year. Families are provided a safe place to stay, day care for children, three 3 meals a day, tutoring, life skills and budgeting classes, and case management. Our Rapid Rehousing Program helps families quickly establish a new residence each year through financial assistance and follows up with case management to increase the chance of a successful outcome, helping families return to being self-sustaining members of our community.
Barracks of Hope provides transitional housing for up to 9 months to male and female veterans who have struggled with homelessness, addiction, and mental health. Single occupancy rooms are provided, along with mental health counseling, case management, and three meals per day. In 2019, Barracks of Hope served 52 veterans and helped move 28 into permanent housing.
HUM Services 2019 – What Your Donations Accomplished
Homeless Prevention
Feed a Family- 30,256 bags of 32 pounds of food (484 tons)
Food Brings Hope - 8,022 bags of 16 pounds of food (64 tons)
Volusia County Summer Camps – 663 bags of 16 pounds of food (5 tons)
Financial Assistance (rent 235, electric 160, water 54, medical expenses 19, bus passes 581)
Shelter Programs
Hope Place Family Shelter - 139 families served
Hope Place Unaccompanied Youth – 30 youth served
Barracks of Hope – 57 veterans served, 28 transitioned to permanent housing
Cold Weather Shelter - 241 people on 6 cold nights (i.e., <40°)
Hurricane Shelter – 89 sheltered at Volusia County Fairgrounds
Homeless Intervention & Assistance
Hot Meals at the Bridge of Hope 94,882
Showers & Hygiene Packs 29,853
Clothes & Shoes 10,628
Breakfast & Snack Food Bags 13,112
Bus Passes – 581 served
Case Management - 7,489 served
We Need Your Help – Get Involved
There are many ways YOU can help HUM help our neighbors in need and make our community a better place. You can help by donating food, volunteering your time or services, attending or sponsoring a fundraiser, committing to sponsor a room at Hope Place, or introducing Halifax Urban Ministries to a friend who may want to get involved.
HUM’s annual budget is $2,300,000 which is funded mostly by individuals, faith groups, businesses, foundations, organizations and our partners. We are now also reimbursed for rent and utility assistance provided to families through federal, state and local grants. 94% of each dollar goes to provide services here in our community. To sponsor an event, donate, learn more or schedule a tour call 386-317-5880 or email info@halifaxurbanministries.org
People Matter to God
Board Leadership
Executive Board Members
Ted Serbousek, Board Chair
Anne Evans, Vice Chair
Don Teasley, Secretary
Jerry Cutter, Treasurer
Board Members
Ward Berg, Norris Brewer, Lonnie Brown, Anne Evans, Al Falco, Autumn Johnson, Rev. John Long, Tim Mann, Ted Serbousek, Scott Smith, Tensy Stewart, Les Thompson, Gary Wandelt, Senator Tom Wright, Geri Wright-Gibson
Ex Officio: Rev. Dionne Hammond, William (Bill) Turner
People Matter to God
Staff Leadership
Administration
Buck James – Executive Director
Donna Dooley – Director of Operations
Rebecca Wetzel – Director of Finance
Tammy Herring – Finance & HR Assistant
Paul Denton – Finance Assistant
Homeless Prevention & Intervention
Julie Bernstein– Prevention & Intervention Coordinator
Housing Case Management
Jeremy Royce – Housing Counselor
Tanisha Gadson – Housing Case Manager
Joanne Robert – Housing Case Manager
Dawn Landry – Housing Case Manager
Lisa Degolier– Hope Place Case Manager
Hope Place Family Shelter
Surbrina Thayer – Facility Manager
Saydra Defreese – Lead Resident Assistant
Jessica Norvitz – Resident Assistant
John Watson – Resident Assistant
Laurie Riley – Resident Assistant
Sheliah Herron – Resident Assistant
Jose Perez – Maintenance
John Bleuel – Hope Place Cafe Manager
Bridge of Hope
Bess Dufoe – Kitchen Manager
Rufus Harper – Program Assistant
Barracks of Hope
Brandy Conaway – Facility Manager
Krysten Carwise – Resident Assistant
Helen Pearson – Case Manager
Logistics
Tina Davis – Logistics Coordinator
Dennis Horton – Driver
Mario Figueroa – Driver
Sustaining Partners
Americrown
Bank of America
Compusys
Embry Riddle
Florida Hospital
Florida United Methodist Conference
Gordon Food Services
Jon Hall / Ritchey Automotive
Limu
Little Caesars
Sodexho
Turner Partners
Publix
US Food Services