Richard Van Mele and his fellow members of the Notre Dame Club of Vero Beach were honored last Tuesday by the Homeless Family Center at the second annual Hope through Service Awards Luncheon, chaired by Jolene Barlin and held at The Plaza. The award recognizes individuals and groups who have supported the Homeless Family Center in making a positive impact on the lives of the homeless.
“Dick is a remarkable guy. It’s a real pleasure to be here to honor him,” said event emcee and fellow Notre Dame graduate John Moore, noting that among other things Van Mele has been a lawyer, professor and lobbyist. “I’ve never known Dick to look at a challenge and say it can’t be done.”
Referring to a newsletter compilation of HFC stories through the years, Moore said it gave a sense of the timeless efforts by Van Mele and the Notre Dame Club to influence the course of the Homeless Family Center.
As guests enjoyed their lunch, catered by Chelsea’s on Cardinal, HFC executive director Mary Ellen Maguire spoke about recent developments and the ever growing need for services.
“We know that now it takes 44 percent of your income to cover your rent,” said Maguire, noting that the homeless family population increased 6 percent last year, in large part because minimum-wage earners cannot afford to pay rent. With 21 rooms filled to capacity, the center had to turn away five families in just the past two months. Far too many others are living out of cars or at campsites in the woods.
On the positive side, collaborations with various individuals and organization have enabled the organization to serve children and parents outside the shelter who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, by providing summer camp, business classes, access to computers and medical care.
“Nothing is given at the center,” said Maguire, adding that residents contribute through chores, and must save 75 percent of their income. “Those rules started from these men sitting right here and they continue today. We’re working together with other agencies in the community to have a greater outreach to those in need.”
In presenting the Hope through Service Award to Van Mele and the Notre Dame Club, Maguire applauded their “Fighting Irish” spirit and core value of service to others.
“I think you already realize that this award is not just for me,” said Van Mele, who has served as board president and occasionally as interim director of HFC. “There’s a whole group of us who worked our tails off for many, many years.”
He remarked that the organization’s early years were filled with “one crisis after another and one struggle after another,” including having to overcome substantial financial obstacles.
Van Mele was instrumental in acquiring not only necessary funding for the organization, but also in establishing a Continuum of Care Plan. Van Mele hired Louise Hubbard, who eventually became executive director of the Treasure Coast Homeless Services Council, now the lead agency for the Continuum of Care for Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties. Richard Stark, last year’s Hope through Service honoree, was appointed board chairman of TCHSC, and Van Mele president of the Homeless Assistance Center, precursor to the Homeless Family Center.
Another major challenge was in finding a location for the HFC, having been told that a homeless facility wouldn’t be permitted in the city. Van Mele recalled that one city council member even stood up and pointed at him saying, “You’re the cause of homeless in this community. We never had homeless people here until you came.”
With never-ending faith that money would be found when they needed it, he said angels came forward with funding to purchase and renovate what had previously been a nursing home, and thereafter the organization began to add programs, services and a highly professional staff.
“We created a professional, highly reputable place,” said Van Mele, adding that of the eight-member core board, six were Notre Dame graduates. “We didn’t do all of this. The Holy Spirit was with us all the time.”