- July 17, 2026
In 1980, members of the clergy in the Greater Daytona Beach area, along with social and educational groups, were meeting to discuss a new program.
Task forces had studied the area to identify the needs in social services. The solution? The formation of an urban ministry program.
More than 30 people representing 15 individual churches from eight denominations, including one synagogue, met at Community United Methodist Church to elect an executive committee to lead this new venture, according to an article from the Daytona Beach News Journal, dated May 25, 1980.
That collaboration led to the founding of Halifax Urban Ministries a year later in 1981. Now, the faith-based nonprofit is celebrating 45 years of serving the communities in Volusia and Flagler.
For Roy Young, president and CEO of HUM, that milestone means they continue to have a great reputation on which to keep building upon. It's why other lead agencies use them as a "benchmark," particularly when it comes to audits regarding grant funds.
"That sort of reputation was built slowly and with great care," Young said. "I think with social services, it's quite difficult to get and keep a reputation. We'd like to grow."
HUM will host a 45th anniversary soirée on Oct. 22, at The Shores Resort and Spa, located at 2627 S. Atlantic Ave. The event will feature a cocktail hour, dinner, a program and dancing, and will celebrate the nonprofit's mission. Young said they hope to raise $105,000 in net funds.
The money raised will help HUM continue its existing programs. These include Barracks of Hope, a transitional housing program for veterans; Hope Place, temporary housing for families with children and homeless youths ages 18-24 who are pursuing an education; Bridge of Hope, a daily hot meal program; Feed a Family, which provides a monthly 32-pound bag of groceries to families in need; Pathways to Housing, which provides rental assistance and expanding housing placements; and Cars Bring Hope, which provides vehicles to individuals served by HUM.
It will also help the agency continue to grow, Young said.
"We need more homeless shelters," he said. "We need a drop-in shelter. We need a permanent place to be able to feed people during the day. Currently, we hand out hot meals and people have to go find their own place to eat, and the number one thing we hear from the food insecure is that it would be a great deal more dignified if they could actually sit."
HUM's homeless prevention programs are critical, said case manager Julie Ayers-Bernstein. Using grant funds, they're able to help with housing needs such as emergency rental and utility assistance.
"There's a huge need for it — an absolute huge need for it, and in my opinion, not enough money for it," Ayers-Bernstein said. "I have to turn away so many people, and it's a little heartbreaking at times."
Most of the aid HUM provides in Flagler County is through rental and utility assistance.
"What's remarkable is how much one month's rent really can help keep a family in their apartment," Young said.
Feeding people has also been a cornerstone of HUM's services. Volunteering with the Feed a Family program is how Ayers-Bernstein first got involved with HUM.
After she was displaced from her hospitality career during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ayers-Bernstein started helping packing to pack grocery bags for families in need.
"That's a key piece, I think, of our success — is that either our employees and our volunteers first started by volunteering so they got to know the work," Young said.
He started as a volunteer too, helping in the kitchen at Hope Place.
"What we've learned most at Halifax Urban Ministries is that we're not giving handouts," he said. "We're giving hand-ups. We're doing God's work. We're helping people who need help."
To learn more about HUM's 45th anniversary celebration, or for sponsorship information, contact [email protected].
