Board Members
President/CEO Bishop Major Foster
Executive Director Helena Gibbs
Secretary Terrance Neal
Treasurer Aaron Green
Asst. Treasurer Vernessa Neal
Board Members Harold Truxon
Rosa Cannon
William Downing Jr.
April Johnson
Russell Burton
Alexis Crowner
Jeffrey Akins
Anthony Taylor
Dashan Lewis
Ruth Hicks
Taquil Foster
Sandra Green
Betty Jo Sampson
Juanita Gill
History
In 2006 Bishop Major Foster and Shay Liptshitz formed a partnership. The result
was The Lighthouse Program for women and children, now opened as a
partnership of Brandywine Counseling, Philadelphia Shelter Home, and Delmarva
Clergy United in Social Action Inc.
Bishop Major Foster said the two programs fit like a glove. Brandywine needed
the place, and we had the programs that Brandywine needed, so everything fit.
We didn’t have the counseling piece or the money we needed, so those tow
pieces made it a fit and it came together.
The Lighthouse Program
The Lighthouse Program opened it doors on December 10, 2007. Shortly after
the program opened the Lighthouse had six women and seven children living
there. The Lighthouse program is the first program to have women and children.
Up to 15 women and 20 children per year from the entire state of Delaware will
get treatment from The Lighthouse. The mothers will get help for their addiction,
trauma, and mental illness, while taking classes in life skills, computers, and
parenting. Children will get assessments, counseling, health care, and a safe
space to learn, grow, and heal. The Lighthouse is designed to bring about some
intensive behavior change is a short amount of time of 9-12 months. They have
structured activities 24 hours per day and 7 days per week. Before discharge, a
transitional plan ensures a return to the community with continued recovery.
The Philadelphia Shelter/Transitional Home
The Philadelphia Shelter/Transitional Home has been in operation since 1986.
Our shelter home is a non-profit facility that provides shelter and transitional
housing for families and individuals is need.
The Philadelphia Shelter/Home assist the homeless in regaining control of their
lives by, providing temporary shelter, temporary assistance, guidance,
counseling, financial budgeting, education, technology, job and health referrals,
and helping towards permanent housing.
The Philadelphia Shelter/Transitional Home consists of 2 30-day rooms, 1 2-
Bedroom apartment, and 3 Studio apartments.
We have strong partnerships with surrounding shelter homes. When individuals
enter the Philadelphia Shelter/Transitional home they are given and intake
interview, which indicates the service the individual(s), may need. We provide
GED, Financial Management, Parenting Classes, Computer Classes, and Case
Management. The shelter home has built strong partnerships with Delaware
Health Social Service, First State Community Action, Division of Social Services,
and the Department of Labor.
Staff Members
Director Vonda Deputy-Smith
Co-Director Carol Pearsall
Secretary Elisia Efford
Treasurer Veronica Watson