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.