Latest news with #TheLord'sPlace
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Silence fuels suffering: Speak up to save social services
In the current state of uncertainty, marked by rising costs and proposed federal budget cuts, many of our local social services face an existential crisis. Your support of the organizations providing these essential services is more necessary than ever. As a nonprofit and philanthropy advisor and the interim CEO of The Lord's Place, I see firsthand the grave impact that a decrease in federal funding could have at our local level. The shutdown of key agencies and funding cuts to Housing and Urban Development, Health and Human services, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Department of Justice (to name a few) threaten not only federal aid, but also the state and local partnerships on which nonprofit agencies in our community depend. It is important to note that federal grants are a key component of the budget for every state and local government–funding a wide range of public services and infrastructure. Florida is currently relying on $37.9 billion in federal funds for its fiscal year 2024-25 budget of $116.5 billion. Palm Beach County receives significant federal funding for various programs, including education, transportation, housing, and other social services. The loss of federal, state, and local funding would have a two-fold impact on The Lord's Place: a significant disruption in cash flow and operating reserves; and increased housing insecurity and an increased demand for our wrap-around services that help end local homelessness. As The Lord's Place risks losing one-third of its $16.5 million budget that is essential to successfully serving our most vulnerable neighbors, the board and staff are prudently planning. We are evaluating our operations and how we stretch every dollar donated to keep our doors open and our mission fulfilled and alive. We are turning to private donors and our community at large to help us mitigate the impact of these potential cuts. We are also preparing for the increased demand for services that will come if other agencies shut down due to a loss of funding. Now, more than ever, agencies like The Lord's Place need your help. Now is also the time to speak up. Congress makes the ultimate decision about the federal budget. Reach out to our elected officials by phone, email, or mail to illustrate the catastrophic impact that would be felt in our local communities if they move forward with the proposed budget for fiscal year 2026. Together, let's continue to foster the greater good and wellbeing of all as we care for the disadvantaged and vulnerable among us. Your (financial support and) voice may be the difference needed to provide life-saving services to those most in need. Kerry Diaz is interim CEO of The Lord's Place and a nonprofit/philanthropy advisor. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Federal funding cuts are endangering local agencies like us | Opinion
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'My passion': A birthday gift for a volunteer benefits homeless men at The Lord's Place
WEST PALM BEACH — Dory Faxon's 50th birthday was on its way, but the Palm Beach Gardens real estate agent let her husband know she didn't want jewels or even a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant. Faxon told her husband, Brad Faxon, she wanted to do something special for a place that had come to be near and dear to her heart: The Lord's Place, a social services organization that helps homeless residents of Palm Beach County. Brad Faxon, the former PGA Tour golfer, quietly went to work, sharing Dory's wish with family and friends. When her birthday rolled around, Brad Faxon threw her a party. "He surprised me with a birthday party," Dory recalled. "I was totally surprised, totally shocked." Dory Faxon was even more surprised by the gift her husband, other family and friends had put together: $50,000 in donations that could be used to help The Lord's Place. Dory had long dreamed of helping to pay for a home, a place where homeless people could get off the streets and get help as they rebuild their lives. "That's going to take millions," Dory Faxon said. Pavilion at The Lord's Place gives men it serves a space to gather Dory Faxon (left) and Michelle McPhee volunteer at The Lord's Place in West Palm Beach, serving hot lunches to about 125 people who are experiencing homelessness and listening to their stories. 'My passion in life is The Lord's Place,' she says. So the $50,000 was set aside and when her father died in 2023, Faxon family and friends decided to ask people to raise more money for The Lord's Place in his honor. All told, they raised more than $97,000 — nowhere near enough for a home but more than enough for something The Lord's Place desperately wanted: a pavilion for the William H. Mann Place for Men, the organization's campus for homeless men. The pavilion, where men could gather to talk, share ideas and encouragement, cost $70,000. The remaining money was used to buy food for the organization's cafe, where Dory Faxon had begun voluneering in 2018. That volunteer work had started, Dory Faxon said, because she missed Easter church services and was feeling a bit guilty. She saw a television commercial for The Lord's Place and decided to make a donation. An official from the organization called her the next day to thank her and offer her a tour. Dory Faxon, who had helped social services organizations in her native Rhode Island, had found a calling. "It was just a natural thing for me," Dory said. Rather than seek a spot on the organization's board, Dory said she relished the opportunity to provide more direct assistance. "I was way more interested in showing up and getting my hands dirty," she said. The Lord's Place volunteer struck by the gratitude of those she serves In honor of Dory Faxon's 50th birthday and in memory of her late father, family and friends raised $97,173 to build Dory's Place, a pavilion at The Lord's Place that serves as a spot for retreats and gatherings for the 50 residents of its William H. Mann Place for Men. For more than four decades now, The Lord's Place has been a staple in homeless outreach and assistance in Palm Beach County. About $2.7 million of its annual funding is now under threat as the Trump administration pulls back on grant funding provided by federal agencies. "A disruption in these grants will have a serious impact on our ability to provide crucial services," said Kerry Diaz, interim chief executive officer of The Lord's Place. Dory, her family and friends are doing what they can to help the organization. The pavilion was dedicated in November. Dory still relishes her Tuesdays at the cafe, where she helps serve hot meals to about 125 people. "My passion in life is The Lord's Place," she said. The homeless people she helps are special to her, she said. "The littlest thing you can do for these people, they are so grateful, so touched," she said. "They are amazing humans." Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@ Help support our work; subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Woman's birthday gift helps expand West Palm center for homeless men
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida homeless service demands increase despite drop in federal, state funding
As Board Chair of The Lord's Place, a local nonprofit providing programs and services to end homelessness, we serve our most vulnerable neighbors. On any given night there are thousands of men, women and children – hidden in the shadows of Palm Beach County's paradise – who do not have a safe and permanent place to call home. Annually, we participate in the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-mandated Point-in-Time Count (PIT). PIT is a count of sheltered and unsheltered people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. As reported by The Palm Beach Post, the January 2025 PIT Count recently released reflects 1,520 individuals and families in Palm Beach County who are struggling without a place to call home. This reflects a decrease of more than 28%, after staggering increases that were reported in 2023 and 2024. Although the count is a vital tool for resource development and planning, it serves as one measure of Palm Beach County's progress in decreasing homelessness and success in housing homeless populations. The recent statewide legislation makes it illegal to camp on public property and has led many of those we seek to move into the shadows. This makes it increasingly difficult to get accurate results. The School District of Palm Beach County uses another tool to count public school students who are experiencing homelessness. According to the school district's latest count, there are 4,252 students in our county without a place to call home. And, as observed by The Lord's Place staff, we are seeing an ever-increasing number of local residents seeking services because they no longer have a secure roof over their heads. Since our fiscal year began July 1, 2024, we have served a total of 1,891 men, women and children so far – an additional 312 individuals experiencing homelessness compared to the previous year-to-date. The great news is that the county government and community partners, like The Lord's Place, are working harder than ever to serve our at-risk neighbors. As an example, previous PIT Count surveys showed a rise in senior homelessness which led The Lord's Place to recently open Burckle Place III, an intergenerational housing facility for 21 women. We are also getting ready to open Bill's Place, a facility for men 55 years and older. Opinion: I'm an Army veteran. Florida's u-turn on our benefits is common sense. The not-so-good news is this year's decreased PIT Count could mean a reduction in allocated federal and state resources to provide housing and supportive services designed to assist individuals and families out of homelessness and into stability. The unsettling reality is a gap exists between the number of unhoused people we count and the actual number who lack permanent shelter – perhaps those who are couch surfing, living in their cars, hidden in wooded areas, encampments or at work or school. Therefore, we continue to face a shortfall in the resources we have to serve this more than ever, agencies like ours are having to turn to private donors to mitigate the impact of these potential cuts to ensure continued support for our neighbors in need. Letter: Federal funds aid Palm Beach County The Lord's Place, along with the County and our community partners, will continue to play a key role in advocating for more resources. As ambassadors for those experiencing homelessness, our work will never be done until every individual in Palm Beach County is accounted for and has a home. Cornie Thornburgh is Chair of The Lord's Place Board of Directors. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida homeless services need increases as funds decrease | Opinion
