In September 1989, 20 religious organizations banded together to launch Family Renew Community, a faith-based nonprofit providing temporary housing to families with children in Volusia County.
Family Renew operates temporary housing campuses in Holly Hill, Daytona Beach and DeLand.
It also operates The Secret Attic thrift store at 32 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach. Open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the store raises donations for Family Renew including furniture and clothing for the families it serves.
Former resident now helps others
To date, Family Renew has helped 1,990 families, including Anita Brooks who became a resident 16 years ago as a single mother of six including a 6-month-old son.
“I had just become homeless,” said Brooks. “Thanks to Family Renew, I was able to pay off my debts and learned how to manage a budget. I moved out after a little over a year into a four-bedroom home and got my degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida. After working elsewhere, I was blessed to come back to Family Renew as an employee three years later.”
Today, Brooks is program manager for Family Renew’s 14-unit Holly Hill campus at 810 Ridgewood Ave.
New executive director
On Sept. 23, Family Renew welcomed new executive director Lindsay Elliott. She was previously executive director for Flagler Habitat for Humanity in Bunnell.
The Stetson University alumna and her husband live in DeLand not far from the nonprofit’s seven-unit campus at 259 W. Voorhis Ave.
“I’m so thrilled I made this decision,” said Elliott of taking the helm at Family Renew. “Our office is at the Holly Hill campus so I’m waving to the families and playing with the babies every day. This is what it’s all about: the people.”
Elliott succeeds Claris Mac’Kie, 85, who came out of retirement to fill in as interim executive director in June. Mac’Kie was previously executive director from 1997 to 2017.
How it works
Family Renew relies on donations and volunteers, including the religious organizations that founded it. Each church or synagogue maintains units which they clean, repaint and re-furnish after families move out.
Families receiving temporary housing must agree to hold a steady job and put 50% from each paycheck into a savings account for a home or apartment of their own. They must meet weekly with a program manager to review their budget and receipts and take part in community chores. They also take classes in money management, parenting and nutrition.
“My first day here, I asked one of the residents how she was doing and she said, ‘It’s so hard.’ I thought, ‘perfect,'” said Elliott. “Changing behaviors is difficult, especially when it comes to money.”
Mark your calendar
On Nov. 14, Family Renew will hold its sixth annual “Artists with Hearts of Gold” charity event, 6 to 8 p.m., at the Brannon Center, 105 S. Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach. The event will feature works by local artists. For details, visit familyrenew.org or call 772-342-6644 or 386-310-2428.