DeLand's Neighborhood Center of West Volusia and homeless shelter lose key leaders

DELAND — The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia entered the new year short a few key players.

The holiday season saw the termination of Michael Forrester, who was hired mid-2020 to run The Bridge, a crisis shelter and day center for homeless people that opened in September 2020.

The Bridge is operated by The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those who are homeless and/or hungry.

"The agency and its board of directors are completing a full internal review of Mr. Forrester’s tenure leading up to his termination," which occurred Dec. 14, according to a news release from the nonprofit. "The Neighborhood Center and its board of directors are unable to comment further about Mr. Forrester's termination until the full internal review is complete."

Serving the community: The Bridge homeless shelter opens in DeLand

Liam Sweeney, director of programs at the Neighborhood Center, and Waylan Niece, director of operations, are managing the shelter following Forrester's termination.

Reached by phone Monday, Forrester said regarding his firing that "they wanted to go in a different direction."

"It's something that happens in every organization," Forrester said.

He said he was glad God put him in the position and for the work he was able to do.

"My sole purpose was to help those individuals who were disenfranchised and to open the doors to The Bridge and get people into housing," Forrester said.

He said he was thankful to the community for the opportunity, and he hopes "they can continue to do great things."

Unrelated to Forrester's firing, the agency saw longtime executive director Susan Clark resign from her post in December after nearly 15 years, Niece said. Harry Robinson, who served as chief operating officer, also left around the same time.

Niece also is serving as the interim executive director.

Clark said by phone Monday that she's grateful for the time she had with the nonprofit, and she's looking for other opportunities in the social services field.

"We achieved a lot of successes," Clark said. "It was just time to go in a new direction."

Niece, who's worked with the agency for more than a decade, said the nonprofit's board of directors formed a search committee and is working to recruit applicants.

"We don’t necessarily know what the timeline is going to be," said Niece, who has applied for the role.

Mission achieved

Despite the leadership changes amid the holiday season and the ongoing pandemic, the nonprofit continues to serve the community, Niece said.

"We ensured that all of our clients had a gift to open on Christmas," Niece said.

A mask mandate also is temporarily in place due to increasing coronavirus cases, Niece said. "We will continue to reassess."

The Neighborhood Center's mission "is to provide food for the hungry, shelter for the homeless and prevent homelessness," according to the nonprofit's website.

Clark said she loves the agency's mission and is confident it will continue to be carried out.

Niece said the nonprofit is looking for more sponsors and attendees for the upcoming Empty Bowls fundraiser on Jan. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m., at DeLand High School.

The event, which supports the community food pantry, is a basic representation of what it would be like to eat at a soup kitchen, but the soups are provided by local restaurants, Niece said.

"The concept is that in each bowl you get only 3 ounces," Niece said. "Imagine eating that every day of your life."

Visit neighborhoodcenterwv.org for information.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: DeLand's Neighborhood Center and homeless shelter lose key leaders