For more than 30 years, Pathlight HOME has been committed to ending homelessness and changing the lives of underserved individuals in our community. To support our efforts, we’re grateful for the many partners who work alongside us who also believe in our mission. 

Grosvenor Services – a cleaning and facilities management company – has been a key partner in our work.

“Pathlight HOME is an organization that is creating real change now,” says Rita T. McCauley, CEO of Grosvenor Services. “They are an inspiration and a true gift to our community.”

What started as a tour, has turned into more than two years of continuous support and investment. Grosvenor serves as a partner of Pathlight’s supportive employment program, which provides the opportunity for Pathlight clients to participate in a paid internship to build and strengthen their workplace skills.

What started as a tour, has turned into more than two years of continuous support and investment. For instance, Grosvenor serves as a partner of Pathlight’s supportive employment program, which allows a client to participate in a paid internship, so they build and strengthen their workplace skills. 

“Providing access to housing is just the first step in addressing and ending homelessness,” adds Babette Allen, CEO of Pathlight HOME. “True transformation happens with the wrap-around support we provide, like access to mental health counseling, our employment center and even our culinary training program. And because of organizations like Grosvenor Services, we can continue to serve the whole individual and guide them toward a life of self-sufficiency and stability.

To schedule a virtual tour and learn more about our programs and services, email info@pathlighthome.org.

Please join us in welcoming Kevin D. Poole, MSW, LNHA as a new board member of Pathlight HOME. Kevin currently serves as Executive Director of Support Operations for AdventHealth, where he leads the hospital’s performance improvement initiatives as well as various crisis and issues management.

Kevin D. Poole, MSW, LNHA Biography

Kevin D. Poole, MSW, LNHA currently serves as Executive Director of Support Operations for AdventHealth. In his role, he leads the hospital’s performance improvement initiatives as well as various crisis and issues management.

Prior to AdventHealth, he served as Executive Director for the Life Care Center of Jacksonville, a senior living facility. His expertise includes experience managing and overseeing administrative functions and compliance for hospital systems, rehabilitation centers and related healthcare facilities across the country.

Poole earned a master's degree in social work and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Adventist University-Collegedale. 

At Pathlight HOME, we believe everyone deserves a chance to build the life that affords them the opportunity to thrive in our community. For many of our clients, that starts with housing.

And thanks to OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation, the leading global vision care foundation, and its partner Transitions, our clients at our Maxwell Gardens community also had a chance to prioritize their vision care.

At a recent vision clinic organized by the foundation, 83 Pathlight clients received free eye exams to address unresolved vision problems.

One of our residents, Holly, is a hostess at a restaurant and often had to squint to see the tablet she used to seat guests. In fact, squinting became so natural to Holly that she didn’t realize it until her co-workers pointed it out. At the end of the clinic she fitted with her first pair of glasses.

“I knew it was going to be life changing,” shares Holly.

The clinic leveraged the OneSight EssilorLuxottica Foundation’s proven clinic model and manufacturing capabilities, enabling most participants in need of glasses to receive their newly prescribed, quality eyewear on-site.

At the end of the clinic, 100 percent of the clients who participated needed new glasses. And everyone who needed glasses received a pair that same day!

True transformation takes community partnerships, and we’re grateful to OneSight and Transitions for their commitment to providing equitable access to vision care.

In 2021, Pathlight HOME added the Pathways Drop In Center as part of its service offerings. Pathways serves those who are unhoused and living with a mental illness by providing access to meals, showers, laundry and employment programs.

When someone becomes a member of Pathways Drop In Center, our team addresses their most critical and immediate needs first. But from there, we work with individuals to build up their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. 

That’s where our peer support groups and social activities come into the picture. Here are three reasons why socialization is an important part of addressing mental wellbeing:

Strong relationships can lead to better health. Research shows that strong social connections can lead to higher self-esteem and lower rates of anxiety and depression. In addition to the relationships that are formed, participating in activities like walking or outdoor games builds healthy habits among our members. 

Support groups help strengthen social skills. Through our peer support groups, we’re thankful to have instructors who lead various sessions like how to grow relationships or creative coping skills for managing stress. These sessions provide an opportunity for our members to connect with others who share similar experiences and interests. And that sense of belonging can give people a sense of purpose and meaning. 

Group activities reduce isolation and loneliness. Social isolation and loneliness are major risk factors for mental health issues. At Pathways Drop In Center, we strive to create a safe space where people don't have to walk their journey alone. Whether those relationships are built through painting, board games or field trips, the goal is to build community so that we can help our members thrive in their lives.  

To learn more about our drop-in center and its services, please visit https://pathlighthome.org/pathways-drop-in/

Graduation season is upon us and at Pathlight HOME, every eight weeks, we get to celebrate students who complete our Culinary Training Program.

During the eight-week course, students receive hands-on cooking classes, learn banquet dining skills and train in the field through Sobik’s Subs, a social enterprise that supports the mission of Pathlight. Students who complete the program receive the ServSafe Allergens and SafeStaff® Food Handler certifications. They also earn the Certified Guest Service Professional (CGSP) designation as part of the American Hotel & Lodging Association’s Guest Service Gold® training.

Join us in celebrating the graduation of our recent students:

The Pathlight HOME Culinary Training Program launched in 2014. Morning and afternoon classes are offered Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. and 1:30-5 p.m. Applications are being accepted for upcoming classes.

In 2021, Aimie was looking for a way to give back to her community but felt like other organizations she volunteered with in the past were big and too transactional.

“I love that Pathlight is like a family, and the leadership is always appreciative of your time,” Aimie says. “They show gratitude and take time to get to know each volunteer. You matter here.”

Aimie volunteers weekly at Pathlight after wrapping up her day as a dental assistant. She supports administrative tasks and helps to restock the food pantry. 

Even after putting in a full day at a busy dental practice, Aimie says she prioritizes serving with Pathlight because of the organization’s direct impact on the community. While growing up, Aimie’s family went through a difficult financial time, so she can relate and wants to give back. 

“There are other resources in the community, but there is no other organization like Pathlight,” shares Aimie. “People would have to go to multiple different places to have their needs met, whereas Pathlight is all-inclusive.” 

Aimie looks forward to continuing to support Pathlight.  

“It’s a basic human right to have a place to call home, something that you own and is personal for you,” Aimie adds. “We all deserve to have that.”

Volunteers like Aimie are critical to helping us fulfill our mission in serving our neighbors who were once homeless. We are so thankful for her years of compassion and service! 

Whether you’re an individual, school group, corporate group or otherwise, we provide a variety of volunteer opportunities. From assisting with resident social activities to serving meals or supporting our employment center and more, there’s a place for you. 

To learn more about becoming a volunteer with Pathlight HOME, visit our volunteer page.

Jessica is a hair stylist who enjoys helping her clients achieve the look of their dreams. In 2020, she brought that same passion to Pathlight, and began providing free haircuts once a month. She rotates each month from Maxwell Terrace to Maxwell Gardens and even the Pathways Drop-In Center. 

She shares that one of the best parts of that experience is meeting someone new, and building relationships along the way. And for many who sit in her chair, it’s more than a haircut. 

“I remember working with someone who had faced a number of challenges, including a health scare and depression,” shares Jessica. “And his decision to shave his hair was really a moment of transformation. It was an opportunity to rid himself of the past and celebrate his path forward.”

During her monthly visits, Jessica provides anywhere from 10-15 haircuts. She also often brings co-workers to support as well. Since becoming a volunteer, Jessica has given more than 300 haircuts. 

“Volunteering is a part of me,” says Jessica. “And it’s even better working alongside people who truly care. The residents at Pathlight have a home, but even more, they have a family who wants to see them thrive.”

Volunteers like Jessica are critical to helping us fulfill our mission in serving our neighbors who were once homeless. We are so thankful for her years of compassion and service! 

Whether you’re an individual, school group, corporate group or otherwise, we provide a variety of volunteer opportunities. From assisting with resident social activities to serving meals or supporting our employment center and more, there’s a place for you. 

To learn more about becoming a volunteer with Pathlight HOME, visit our volunteer page.

It’s International Women’s Week, and we are celebrating by highlighting the hard-working, dedicated and caring women of Pathlight HOME. They help us serve those experiencing homelessness by providing affordable housing and economic opportunities. We spoke to a few of the devoted women of Pathlight HOME about what motivates them to serve their community and how they found their way to Pathlight.

We are proud to announce that Babette Allen has been named the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Pathlight HOME. Babette has served as president since 2020, and has been with the organization for more than 16 years. Helaine Blum, our co-founder, and who has spent more than 30 years serving the homeless in our community, will serve as president emeritus. 

“Babette’s passion and extensive experience serving the unhoused in our community makes her the perfect leader for Pathlight HOME,” said Larri Thatcher, board chair of Pathlight HOME. “With thousands of individuals experiencing homelessness in our community, the importance of our work is even greater and Babette will help guide Pathlight into the future.”

Since joining Pathlight in 2007, Babette has helped spearhead a number of service expansions, including the opening of an employment resource center and the acquisition of Pathways Drop-In Center, a respite center that primarily focuses on the underserved who have a mental illness. 

“I’m thankful to our board for trusting me to carry out the legacy of what Reverend Fred Maxwell and Helaine Blum created more than 30 years ago to address this need in our community,” said Allen. “We’ve long recognized that housing is only the first step to addressing homelessness, and in the coming months, I’m excited to share what we have on the horizon to better serve our clients and our community.”

Pathlight HOME is Central Florida's first and largest provider of the housing first model. Each year, the organization houses more than 600 men and women, while also connecting its clients to career training opportunities, a food pantry and various community resources. To learn more about how you can support Pathlight HOME, visit https://pathlighthome.org.