The Lord's Place in West Palm celebrates opening of larger facility to help serve homeless

Wayne Washington, Palm Beach Post
Updated ·4 min read

Hundreds gathered recently to celebrate the opening of The Lord's Place's new, 25,000-square foot building on Australian Avenue in West Palm Beach.

The building at 2808 N. Australian Avenue opened in June, but the Lord's Place — which provides services to and advocates for homeless people — held its official ribbon cutting Thursday as much of Palm Beach County's political and government staff leadership looked on and applauded.

The Lord's Place raised more than $20 million from 208 donors to help pay for the new building, which is nearly triple the size of its previous one. The Fortin Foundation of Florida provided a kickoff gift of $4 million, and the facility was named the Fortin Family Campus in the foundation's honor.

Diana Stanley, chief executive officer of The Lord's Place, said her organization will be able to offer more services to more people at the new building, which replaces a 9,000-square-foot facility that was razed two years ago.

"This particular space allows us to serve more people in a more efficient manner," Stanley said.

How many in Palm Beach County are homeless?

The Lord's Place new 25,000-square-foot client service center at Fortin Family Campus celebrated with a ribbon cutting on October 19, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The center opened and began serving clients in early June.
The Lord's Place new 25,000-square-foot client service center at Fortin Family Campus celebrated with a ribbon cutting on October 19, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The center opened and began serving clients in early June.

Homelessness has been a vexing, stubborn problem throughout Palm Beach County for many years. The Lord's Place estimates that about 3,000 people are homeless in the county. That's far more than recent, point-in-time counts have shown, but such counts miss people who are homeless at different points during the year, Stanley has said.

The Lord's Place, which began operating in Palm Beach County in 1979, serves breakfast and lunch to people who are homeless and provides job training and other social services.

There have been some high-profile wins against homelessness, including the work of a Riviera Beach police detective and a coalition of social-services organizations in helping a pregnant woman find housing before she gave birth. Still, the problem persists.

"It's an epidemic out there," said George Gonzalez, an outreach and peer coordinator for The Lord's Place. "We've got whole families out there."

Gonzalez travels throughout the county, including treks as far west as Belle Glade, to meet homeless people where they live and tell them about services that are available to them.

Chief Executive Office Diana Stanley raises her arms in the air next to Palm Beach Mayor Danielle Hickox Moore, right, and Willy Williams, who cut the ribbon at The Lord's Place new 25,000-square-foot client service center at Fortin Family Campus celebrated with a ribbon cutting on October 19, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The center opened and began serving clients in early June.

What food services does The Lord's Place offer to the homeless in Palm Beach County?

The Lord's Place serves food to about 175 people per day, said Stanley, who added that it's her "dream" to raise enough money to be able to serve dinner, too.

Gonzalez, who described his work as more calling than job, said he and his colleagues don't use their interactions with homeless people to browbeat or chastise them.

"When we're serving, we're listening," he said. "It's not about what we tell them. It's about what they need."

Chef Nick Guevara takes muffins out of the oven at The Lord's Place new 25,000-square-foot client service center at Fortin Family Campus celebrated with a ribbon cutting on October 19, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The center opened and began serving clients in early June.
Chef Nick Guevara takes muffins out of the oven at The Lord's Place new 25,000-square-foot client service center at Fortin Family Campus celebrated with a ribbon cutting on October 19, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The center opened and began serving clients in early June.

Stanley said The Lord's Place needs about $160,000 to close a shortfall opened up by its expanded work.

The political leaders on hand Thursday described The Lord's Place as a good bet for any volunteer or donor.

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"Palm Beach County has been a partner with The Lord's Place, and we look forward to being a partner for years to come," Palm Beach County Commissioner Mack Bernard said.

State Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, added: "The Legislature and my colleagues here in Palm Beach County are dedicated to ending homelessness in Palm Beach County. This is not a partisan issue; it's a people issue, and we will get the job done."

Tutor Janice Hamilton hugs Matalia Bush with her dad, Marquis Bush at The Lord's Place new 25,000-square-foot client service center at Fortin Family Campus celebrated with a ribbon cutting on October 19, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The center opened and began serving clients in early June.
Tutor Janice Hamilton hugs Matalia Bush with her dad, Marquis Bush at The Lord's Place new 25,000-square-foot client service center at Fortin Family Campus celebrated with a ribbon cutting on October 19, 2023 in West Palm Beach, Florida. The center opened and began serving clients in early June.

Willie Williams attended Thursday's ribbon-cutting, proof of what one man's determination and The Lord's Place help can accomplish.

Williams, 72, said he was homeless for a year before getting off the streets about 18 months ago.

The Lord's Place, he said, "allowed me to get shelter, clothes, food."

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"It helped me get a job," said, Williams, who works in food service.

Even with all of the dignitaries in the room Thursday, it was Williams whom Stanley called on to cut the ceremonial ribbon to commemorate the new building.

He said others can get back on their feet if they follow his path to The Lord's Place.

"It provides for the homeless," he said of the organization. "If they really want it, this will be a key place to be. If you're homeless on the street, come to The Lord's Place."

Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Lord's Place in West Palm Beach opens new facility on Australian Ave.