Homeless and Residential Programs
Gulfstream Goodwill’s Homeless Residential Programs provide permanent supportive housing that is safe, comfortable, and affordable for single adults with disabilities who are homeless and/or at risk for homelessness. Gulfstream Goodwill utilizes a person-centered approach while adhering to the Housing First Model in all of our housing programs. Wrap-around services including, but not limited to, counseling, life skills development, peer support, case management, job placement, financial literacy education, and psychiatric services are offered. Gulfstream Goodwill operates 2 types of homeless residential programs – Permanent Supportive Housing and Rapid Rehousing. We participate in a county-wide collaborative when accepting referrals to our programs. The first step in seeking placement in our housing programs is to contact the Lewis Center at 561-904-7900. Upon calling, an individual is screened to determine eligibility. Persons seeking housing assistance must meet the HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) definition of literally homeless*
The Senator Philip D. Lewis Center (“Lewis Center”), is part of the Leading the Way Home Plan, which is a continuation of the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners’ work to end homelessness. It offers a single point of access for homeless and potentially homeless individuals and families who are seeking assistance to restore a self-sufficient and productive lifestyle. The Lewis Center provides 66 beds for individuals who are homeless and seeking assistance.
Through a unique partnership led by Gulfstream Goodwill Industries, individuals and families may receive services that include, but are not limited to, assessment, medical care, interim housing, case management, life skills training, financial literacy training, vocational training, and job placement. Onsite partners include Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, the Health Care District of Palm Beach County, the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County, and The Lord’s Place.
All activities of the Lewis Center are accomplished through the support of the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, Palm Beach County Human and Veterans Services department, The Homeless Coalition, GL Homes, other philanthropic organizations, and private citizens that have joined in the fight to end homelessness in our community by serving thousands of individuals and families since the Lewis Center’s inception in 2012.
For additional information, please call the Lewis Center at 561-904-7900.
In order to address the growing homeless population in John Prince Park and throughout Palm Beach County, Gulfstream Goodwill partnered with the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, and the Human and Veterans Services Department of Palm Beach County to develop a second homeless resource center which mimics the Lewis Center. The Lewis Center Annex provides up to an additional 125 beds for individuals who are homeless and seeking assistance.
For additional information, please call the Lewis Center at 561-904-7900.
This project offers affordable housing for individuals with a documented developmental disability who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Eligible participants must have income that is at or below 60% of the area median income. The project consists of 6 one-bedroom/one-bath units. Three of the units are reserved for individuals with extremely low income defined as at or below 30% of the area median income. Residents are provided with comprehensive clinical case management and long-term support services. A Housing First approach is utilized in this program. Services are person-centered, trauma-informed, and focus on the engagement of the participant to develop an improved quality of life. Participants may also be offered the assistance of an employment specialist to address the development of a resume, interviewing/job skills, and job placement. If you have questions or would like to make a referral, please contact the Director, Elizabeth Paige Delgado 561-386-6479.
A homeless shelter serving the Western Community. There are 2 locations; one in Belle Glade and one in Pahokee. The Belle Glade site serves as the intake and assessment center. The Pahokee site provides 42 one-bedroom/one bathroom units for families, seniors, couples, and singles. The center offers referral, intake, assessment, medical services, shelter beds, employment assistance, and life skills training. Services are offered in partnership with County Human and Veterans Services, the Homeless Outreach Team, The Health Department, Career Source, and homeless service providers in the Palm Beach County Continuum of Care.
For additional information, please call Belle Glade Transitional Shelter at 561-996-1690 or Lake Village at the Glades at 561-996-4863.
Rapid re-housing is intended to assist eligible participants to quickly obtain and sustain stable, permanent housing. Effective rapid re-housing requires case management and financial assistance, as well as housing search and locations services. Support and duration of service are tailored to meet the needs of each household and each household has a lease in their name and is connected to mainstream resources in the community in which they reside.
Eligible individuals must:
- Be literally homeless* as defined by HUD.
- Be prepared to put together a reasonable plan that shows how they are going to maintain housing once housing assistance has ended, a budget, a financial worksheet and or a narrative description of changes in household circumstances that made them homeless.
- Entry is based on SPDAT (Service Prioritization Assistance Decision Tool) or Tay-VISPDAT (for youth ages 18-24) Acuity score (highest to lowest).
Seniors (Ages 60 and older) who are at risk of homelessness may receive financial assistance to sustain their housing. Along with Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Services, Inc., GGI will identify seniors who would benefit from shared housing to prevent homelessness. Seniors are provided assistance with items such as, but not limited to, utility bills, rent arrears, medical bills, HOA payments, security deposits, move-in expenses, and storage. Additionally, we identify seniors who would benefit from roommate matching to prevent future financial instability. For additional information, please contact The Lewis Center at 561-904-7928.
Permanent Supportive Housing is targeted to individuals who need services in order to maintain housing. Prioritization is given to individuals who have been identified as chronically homeless** as defined by HUD.
Eligible individuals must:
- Be literally homeless* as defined by HUD.
- Lack the resources to obtain housing.
- Have a severe or significant disabling condition.
- Qualify as a high need based on the SPDAT (Service Prioritization Assistance Decision Tool) or Tay-VISPDAT (for youth ages 18-24) Acuity score (highest to lowest).
* Literally Homeless:
An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, meaning:
- Has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation.
- Is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designated to provide temporary living arrangements (including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels paid for by charitable organizations or by federal, state and local government programs);
- Or is exiting an institution where he/she resided for 90 days or less and who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately before entering that institution.
**Chronic Homelessness:
A homeless individual with a disability who lives either in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter, or in an institutional care facility if the individual has been living in the facility for fewer than 90 days and had been living in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter immediately before entering the institutional care facility. In order to meet the ‘‘chronically homeless’’ definition, the individual also must have been living as described above continuously for at least 12 months, or on at least four separate occasions in the last 3 years, where the combined occasions total a length of time of at least 12 months. Each period separating the occasions must include at least 7 nights of living in a situation other than a place not meant for human habitation, in an emergency shelter, or in a safe haven.
For additional information, please call the Lewis Center at 561-904-7900.
