New Beginnings Of Central Florida has partnered with the City of Groveland to create Groveland’s first affordable housing project through funds available through the Community Land Trust (CLT), a private, nonprofit organization promoting housing affordability, sustainable development and a response to the increasing lack of affordable housing.
The three affordable homes will be located at 347 N. Main Avenue, Groveland. The project is income-based and applicants must already live and work in Groveland.
It was more than 16 years ago, on a cold Sunday morning in January 2007, when Steve Smith and his wife Linda met a homeless man named Randy who would transform their lives forever. Randy was new to Clermont, homeless and seeking a new beginning. Steve found him a safe place to stay, helped him find work, and shortly thereafter, New Beginnings was formed. The newly formed organization hired a live-in house manager and housed Randy and other men who struggled to find stable employment and housing.
Randy’s journey became a beacon of hope, inspiring others to believe in the transformative power of support and opportunity. As New Beginnings flourished, they expanded their services, offering transitional housing, affordable rentals, and even pathways to homeownership.
Today, over 16 years later, New Beginnings stands as a testament to the belief that anyone can overcome homelessness and build a brighter future with the right resources and support. And it all began with a chance encounter on a Sunday morning—a moment that changed not just Randy’s life, but the lives of countless others in Clermont and beyond.
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. The successful journey out of Homelessness:
- Transitional Housing – offering free housing at New Beginnings Village with free counseling, life skills, and job preparedness training coupled with financial literacy. This first step takes 3-6 months to complete.
- Affordable Rentals – offering permanent affordable rental housing at Woodwinds coupled with free support services and additional computer, financial literacy training, and free after-school programs for students.
And Now In Groveland!
- Ownership – offering Affordable home ownership for those who want to own their own home rather than rent.
NBCL is located at 415 Citrus Tower Blvd. Clermont. Contact 1-352-404-6946 or New Beginnings Helpline – 352-638-5412. Email: info@nbcfl.org
At New Beginnings, those who want to transform their lives can do so with the resources provided: Free counseling, life skills, financial literacy and job preparedness training.
