Rev. Mary Lee Downey is the CEO of the Community Hope Center (CHC), a non-profit founded by Downey in 2013. The CHC provides services to the homeless and disenfranchised in Central Florida focusing on client-centric care and empowering those they serve to determine their own success and sustainability. In the last seven years the CHC has served over 45,000 individuals.
The Center focuses on a “Housing First,” model of care and poverty alleviation. In 2016 The CHC was awarded the prestigious Bank of America Neighborhood Builder’s Award and in 2015 was awarded the "Bob Allen Award" by Walt Disney World for innovative approaches to helping the homeless in the community. Downey and her team are especially proud of the coordinated efforts to provide housing to those displaced from Hurricane Maria, and were recognized for their work by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Downey was awarded the 2019 Central Floridian of the Year and she is humbled by how her community honors her to simply do her job of supporting families in need.
Downey’s most recent project is “Hope Village” a multi-family intentional community designed to provide housing to those in need in partnership with private-public and faith-based organizations.
Downey is a Deacon in the United Methodist Church for the Florida United Methodist Annual Conference. Downey’s focus is on missional outreach through social justice in non-profit organizations.
The Center focuses on a “Housing First,” model of care and poverty alleviation. In 2016 The CHC was awarded the prestigious Bank of America Neighborhood Builder’s Award and in 2015 was awarded the "Bob Allen Award" by Walt Disney World for innovative approaches to helping the homeless in the community. Downey and her team are especially proud of the coordinated efforts to provide housing to those displaced from Hurricane Maria, and were recognized for their work by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Downey was awarded the 2019 Central Floridian of the Year and she is humbled by how her community honors her to simply do her job of supporting families in need.
Downey’s most recent project is “Hope Village” a multi-family intentional community designed to provide housing to those in need in partnership with private-public and faith-based organizations.
Downey is a Deacon in the United Methodist Church for the Florida United Methodist Annual Conference. Downey’s focus is on missional outreach through social justice in non-profit organizations.
